_ 




(lass 




Rook 


1 


PRESENTED BY 



T II E 



CONTEMPLATIONS AND LETTERS 



HENRY DORNEY, 



OF ULEY, GLOUCESTERSHIRE. 



ANDOVER: 
PUBLISHED BY W. F. DRAPER. 

BOSTON: GOULD AND LINCOLN. 
NEW YORK: WILEY AND HAL8TED. 

1858. 



^ 



*Vo 



3^' 



The Contemplations and Letters of Henry Dorney were held 
in high estimation by Madam Phebe Phillips. The copy, which 
she used, came down to her as an Heirloom from her pious ances- 
tors, and was ranked, on her private table, next to her Bible and 
Hymn-book. So highly did she esteem the work, that she copied 
out, with her own hand, a large part of the volume for the use of 
a friend. It is now reprinted as a precious memorial of one of 
the honored Founders of the Theological Institution. 

Gin 
Bertram Smith 
March 15, 193^1 






u 
? 



CONTENTS. 



Page 
A PRACTICAL DISCOURSE OX THE NATURE, MEANS, 

AND METHOD OF SALVATION, 5 

HOW TO FIND GOD A SANCTUARY IN THE TIME OF 

TROUBLE, 85 



113 



1SG 



158 



220 



226 



PRACTICAL DISCOURSE 



NATUIIE, MEANS, AND METHOD OF SALVATION, 



Isaiah 45: 17. 
But Israel shall be saved in the Lord. 

The poor dove being sent abroad, and gliding over the 
great flood, at last found an olive branch and returned to the 
ark. In like manner, my confused thoughts have soared 
hither and thither, over the face of that great deep in which 
the first apostasy drowned mankind ; and, having turned 
over the Scriptures, hoping thence to receive some news 
after such a dreadful shipwreck, this scripture comes flying 
with an olive branch in its mouth : " Saved in the Lord." 
The first word keeps from fainting, till the next word comes 
in, and shows the nature of the deliverance, the certainty 
and the manner of it ; the first word, like Ahimaaz, says, 
All is well ; but Cushi declares the matter, and how it is ac- 
complished. 1 Salvation, plainly asserted, is glad tidings ; 
but lest so weighty a business should be mistaken, and that 
the understanding might be the more convinced ; the means 
by which it is obtained, and the hand from whence it is pro- 
cured, is drawn forth — "in the Lord." As delightful a sen- 
tence to a sinner, as that which Belshazzar saw was terrible 
to him ; that made his joints to tremble ; but this makes the 
lame to leap as a hart ; this makes the wilderness to blossom 
as a rose. 

TJie Meaning of Salvation. 

Saved. — The spirit and sense of this short word " Saved" 
reacheth far, even to the ends of the earth. 2 It importeth a 

1 2 Sam. 18: 28—32. 2 Isa. 49: G. 
1 



b A PRACTICAL DISCOURSE 

state of security from all enemies, and all evil from sin, 1 
Satan, 2 condemnation, wrath, and hell; 3 from all distress, 
etc., in this life, 4 and hereafter. 5 

It importeth an investiture and possession of all real good 
in this life, and in that to come : namely, conversion, calling, 
justification, acceptance with God, adoption, sanctification, 
strength, blessing, manifestation of God, knowledge of the 
truth, 6 and every good thing that may enable the heirs of 
life to despatch their work, find themselves victorious, and 
be led at last to their Father's house ; the walls whereof are 
salvation and peace, and the inhabitants such as are re- 
deemed from this present evil world. The design of salva- 
tion laid the first stone of the new city, and has furnished it 
throughout for the guests which the Saviour of the world 
brings thither. 

But lest my meditations should wander from my own 
taste into a roving speculation, I would willingly keep them 
under such regulation, as that they may speak the words of 
my heart rather than of my head ; and rather what I feel, 
than what I read ; and when I thus muse, I find my heart 
yearn after redemption and salvation in these secret groans, 
expressive of 

The Need of Salvation. 

that I were saved from myself! from a covetous, un- 
righteous, unbelieving use of the things which I here enjoy 
in this world ! from the pleasure of self-esteem, the wretched 
thought of man's praise ! O that I were saved from my 
daily estrangedness to the excellencies of Him who waits to 
be gracious to me ! When shall the price of inward com- 
munion with God outbid all other proffers ? When shall 
my feet be untied, that I may walk at freedom, and suck in 
the dictates of the Spirit, as the only air I live by ? When 
shall I be washed as white as snow ? When shall I 
pray that prayer in truth : " Thy will be done on 
earth (in my heart) as it is in heaven ? " When shall my 
eyes look upon the sun, and not be dazzled ? When shall I 
meditate terror, and yet triumph ? How long shall I be 

1 Matt 1: 21. 2 2 Tim. 2: 26. 3 John 5: 24. Eom. 5: 9. 4 Gen. 
48: 16. 5 1 Thess. 1: 10. 6 Acts 15: 3. 2 Tim. 1: 9. Kom. 4: 25. 
Eph. 1: 6. Gal. 4: 5. 1 Pet. 1: 2. Isa. 45: 24. Gal. 3: 9. John 17: 
26. 1 John 2: 20, 21. 



OF SALVATION. 7 

taking leave of all created sweetness, and yet cannot part ? 
When shall my notions of truth be turned into power, and 
the effectual working of God appear within me as a victori- 
ous conqueror? When shall my lusts and my own will die, 
and be quickened again in the will of my Father? When 
shall T see, and feel, and be freed by, the bare redemption of 
Jesus Christ ? When shall my evil desires, contemplations, 
and folly of heart be starved ? When shall I do all things 
for God, and nothing singly for myself? When will the con- 
sultation of fleshly wisdom cease, and my heart know no 
wisdom, no safety, no riches, but in the word of truth and 
promise ? When shall the faith of free redemption, right- 
sness, and acceptance with God, be strength, joy, and 
victory over all my fear, infirmity and faintness? When 
shall I see my sins sent away into a land not inhabited, and 
my heart shout for joy ? How long shall distempers of 
body disturb my mind ; and the distractions of my mind 
hurry my inward man into the depths of mire and clay ? 
How tinder-like is my soul to every temptation ! How dim- 
sighted, dark, fearful, remiss, and weak-hearted am I ! " Oh, 
wretched man that I am ! who shall deliver me from the 
body of this death ? " 

News of Salvation. 

While the breaking disquietudes of my heart do thus 
twist themselves together, and a variety of temptations, bur- 
dens, convictions, lusts of the flesh, groans, fears, and pant- 
ings, do all strive within me as the seat of exercise ; there 
seems to appear the tw T inkling of a refuge, a morning-star, 
" Salvation for sinners, and perfect redemption ; the vile 
body shall yet be made glorious, sins be blotted out, and 
everlasting righteousness brought in." This is good news; 
but how shall such a blessedness be obtained ? The Lion 
of the tribe of Judah has prevailed, and undertaken the 
work of complete redemption, on behalf of poor, weary, 
miserable, imprisoned souls, " in his ow r n person," w r here all 
salvation lies ; for " there is no other name under heaven, 
whereby a wretched sinner can be saved." Acts iv. 12. 

But, alas ! who can ascend into heaven, or go down into 
the deep, to fetch a healing medicine from this physician ? 
It is true, he is higher than heaven, and deeper than the 
earth ; but the word of faith is swift-winged ; it reveals the 



? 



8 A PRACTICAL DISCOURSE 

heights and depths of this relief in a moment, and cries out, 
by the Spirit, which searcheth the deep things of God, that 
" Now is come salvation and strength." Poor sinners shall 
be " saved," and this salvation is " in the Lord." 

When I hear that redemption and salvation is to be had, 
and that it is to be had in the Lord, my heart cries out, Who 
shall bring me into this strong city, and show me the riches 
of saving health that is there ? There is no other coming at 
it, but by the permission of this blessed word, "In the 
Lord." 

These two words, In and Out, do divide all the inhabit- 
ants of the earth. All persons are either " in the Lord," or 
" without God in the world ; " } either " in the new city," or 
" without, among the dogs." 2 How much weight lies upon 
this word, " In the Lord ! " Here lies the mystery of godli- 
ness, of which the prophets and apostles spoke, and which 
the angels desire to look into. A salvation wrought in God, 
and yet enjoyable by every repenting, believing creature. 
Here are two wonders : first, that a sinner's salvation is 
wrought in God ; secondly, that a sinner enjoys it in the 
Lord. 

The Mystery of Salvation adorable. 

In the Lord. — Who can with fear and reverence enough 
look into this ark, and not be consumed ? Poor sinners are 
invited ; Christ invites, the prophets invite, the apostles in- 
vite ; the Spirit saith, Come ye, and taste that the Lord is 
gracious ; I am the door, and the treasury too, saith Christ. 
The stone that closed the sepulchre is removed ; the vail is 
rent, the holy of holies is open ; come, and see. 

Stand aside, flesh and blood ; thou hast no share, no por- 
tion, in this work ; shut thine eyes, they are no organs to 
receive this manifestation by. Let thine hands be feeble, 
and thy strength be gone ; thou hast labored in vain, and art 
ensnared in the work of thine own hands ; thou art taken in 
a net, and thy striving doth but increase thy bonds ; thou art 
full of the fury of the Lord, as a wild bull in a net. Cease 
from thyself, lie down in ashes, cover thy lip, and cry out, 
Unclean, unclean ! All flesh is grass, it withers, and yields 
no harvest. Suffer thy life to bleed away from thee, that 
thy strength may be gone ; let the mountain become a val- 

1 Eph. 2: 12, 13. 2 Rev. 22: 14, 15. 



OF SALVATION y 

ley, take down thy battlements, be void of all self-refuge, 
wallow thou in the dust, and speak low, as out of the earth; 
for thou art spoiled of every defence. Strip thee naked, as 
in the day thai thou wasl born : be empty and void, O chaos 
of distress, thai the new creation may pass upon thee; let 
thy doors be flung open, that the King, thy Redeemer, may 
enter in. Who is the King of glory? The Lord, strong 
and mighty. He bringeth salvation, his reward is with him, 
his work is before him, hear his voice ; for he cries, " I am 
thy Saviour, and there is no other." Whence comes this 
voice, O my soul ? Do the clouds speak, and the heavens 
declare righteousness ? Is the angel of the Lord breaking 
open the iron gate ? " It is I," saith the Lord, " be not 
afraid ; mine own arm shall save. Thou hast wearied thy- 
self in the greatness of thy way ; but I am come to deliver 
the prisoners who were appointed to die. My name is ex- 
alted, I will lay waste the mountains, and dry up the rivers, 
and prepare a way for my captives to return. The feeble 
among them shall be as David. I will lead them through 
the deep, and they shall not stumble. The work is mine, 
and I will make my ow r n name glorious. I will be forever 
righteous ; and yet, the justifier of poor, unrighteous, vile 
man : for my name is Wonderful." 

These are, indeed, the words of life ; and what shall I say 
to my Lord ? My lips do quiver ; I am broken ; rottenness 
is entered into my bones ; my strength faileth at the news : 
for who can see God and live ? Spare a little, give me 
space to recover strength, touch me that I may stand up, and 
let the glory of the Lord pass before me ; put me in a cleft 
of the rock, that I may behold, and yet not be confounded 
at thy appearance. 

The Mystery of Salvation displayed in the Person of Jesus 

Christ. 

In the Lord. — The eternal, incomprehensible God, who 
dwelleth in inaccessible light, emptieth himself, boweth the 
heavens, comes down and furnisheth himself with the pure 
nature of mankind, and is made flesh in the person of the 
eternal Son of the eternal Father ; and, by the overshadow- 
ing of the eternal Spirit of holiness, is formed in the womb 
of a virgin, out of the road of that natural generation that 
carried along the first man Adam's guilt. And his body 

1* 



10 A PRACTICAL DISCOURSE 

being thus fitted, lie sets to the work, in behalf of those 
whom his Father gave him, and becomes a second Adam to 
them. Command is given forth by his Father, that all 
iniquity of his chosen shall repair thither ; there " all their 
sins meet." Isa. liii. 6, marginal reading. 

Salvation entering on its Battle. 

Great was that day of his travail, when he cried out to 
the north and south, east and west, to give up and bring in 
to him the sins of his sons and daughters, from the ends of 
the earth ; and when he forced them into the sacrifice of the 
great God. They all enter with a huge train of Satan's ac- 
cusations, and, smoking with the eternal indignation of a 
righteous God, proved and condemned by a righteous law, 
and the conscience of every sinner crying out, 6 1 have 
sinned, and it is most righteous that I should die eternally.' 

The battle must be fought with all these, in his own per- 
son ; and he must either overcome or perish. The fight is 
begun ; the rocks rend ; the heavens gather blackness, and 
the earth trembles. At such a surge as this, his soul was 
made as a boiling pot of ointment. His disciples were soon 
struck off their legs ; they fled, and owned him not ; he was 
left alone and given up to the combat. His Father beholds 
the anguish of his soul, and only supports him to endure, 
till he bows his head, and enters into death. The grave 
reigns over him three days. Now is the battle ended ; the 
work is finished ; the powers of darkness are broken ; their 
strength defeated ; the prince of this world cast out : which 
was declared mightily by the Spirit of holiness, through his 
resurrection from the dead. " Who now shall accuse ? It 
is God that justifieth. Who shall condemn ? It is Christ 
that died, yea rather that is risen again. Rom. viii. 33, 34. 

And that this conquest might be peaceably and surely en- 
joyed, and the enemies forever kept from any further in- 
vasion, he prevents future guilt by removing the law * (hav- 
ing borne the curse, and fulfilled it in his own person), that 
it should neither condemn nor accuse. Having already 
spent its condemning power and accusing power upon the 
person of Jesus Christ, that which before was armed with 
strength and clothed with thunder, becomes now a still voice ; 
a guide, a comforter, and a guardian. 

i Rom. 7: 6. 6: 14. 



8ALVA1 [( II 

Tn the Lord. — The painful work being over, what remains, 
but that the laborer receive his wages? He hath purchased 
a vineyard ; why may not ho (juicily enjoy the sam<? His 
enemy is totally spoiled; now ha the land he given him for 
an inheritance, own to the ends of the earth. He hath pur- 
chased a spouse with the slaughter of the Philistines ; 1 and 
now let the King's Son enjoy both her, and the glory of his 
conquest forever. He emptied himself, and became weak ; 
but now liveth to God ; and is the treasury of grace, pardon, 
righteousness, holiness, and life. 

The glorious God, Father, Son, and Spirit, doth now de- 
clare the furnishing a Mediator with all fulness, that mercy 
might have an unlimited vent towards the redeemed, as lately 
justice had the like upon the Eedeemer. To this end, he 
that was essentially fulness before, is now also become a 
complete Mediator, in the fulness of whatever becomes that 
office ; exalted, to the right hand of the Majesty on high, 
and consecrated a Priest forever ; appearing in the presence 
of God for his redeemed ; qualified unto a boundless per- 
fection ; possessing the glory which he had with his Father 
before the world began, and filling human nature therewith 
to its utmost capacity. The glory of the holy God doth 
now dwell, live, act, and manage all things, in the pure 
nature of man; God himself dwelleth with man, and has 
named himself Emmanuel. The only God (in the person 
of the Son), dwelleth in flesh, that mankind might be recon- 
ciled to himself. And whatsoever fulness the person of the 
Mediator is furnished with, it is all made the inheritance of 
every believer, who is completed therein. 2 

God, as the eternal Son of the eternal Father, had eter- 
nally all perfection in himself; but as Mediator, he is anoint- 
ed with the righteousness, wisdom and holiness of God, on 
behalf of man ; and, for his use, to carry on and eternally to 
consummate the design of redemption. So that, what was 
infinite in God, and continues so still, yet dwells in, and is 
forever united to, a finite body. " The fulness of the God- 
head dwelleth in him bodily ." 3 And here God and man are 
mot together indissolubly in a Mediator ; and now God and 
man can walk together ; within the bond of an eternal agree- 
ment ; which otherwise could not have been. For " how 
can two walk together unless they be agreed ? " 4 God who 

1 1 Sam. 18: 17—27. 2 Col. 2: 10. B Col. 2: 9. 4 Amos 3: 3. 



12 A PRACTICAL DISCOURSE 

dwells in unapproachable light, is now, by an unspeakable 
dispensation of grace, come within the narrow confines of 
human nature, and fills it with himself; that He, who is all 
in himself, might be all in man, and make man all in Him. 
The partition wall is taken down, that man might be in a ca- 
pacity to enjoy God, after the power of an infinite and end- 
less life ; and that God may have scope enough to spend 
infinite love on man, and rest in that love, and rejoice in it, 
as in his portion, with freedom, and fulness of satisfaction. 

Here lies the wonder of the gospel, the unsearchable wis- 
dom of God ! and who can pry into it without astonishment ? 
This is that which makes the heavens rejoice, and the earth 
be glad, — that good-will is come to men in the person of 
God-man, the Mediator, who is "over all, God blessed 
forever." 1 

Salvation by Christ applied. 

In the Lord. — But how is this made actually applicable to 
every particular redeemed person, for whom this glorious de- 
sign was undertaken? 

The ever-blessed God, in taking the human nature into 
union with himself in the person of the eternal Word, the 
Son of the Father, through the virtue of the Spirit, (that 
the decree of Salvation for the elect might be fully executed,) 
became the undertaker, the representative, and the semi- 
nal root, of all and every person ordained to life. 

1. He was and is the undertaker for them ; bearing all 
their sins in the guilt and punishment, with every particular 
aggravation of them, in the utmost extent. 2 He hid not his 
face from the shame, nor his heart from the sorrow ; but 
drank up that mighty Jordan, and the rivers of brimstone 
which the breath of the Lord had kindled ; which was the 
portion of that cup, poured out without mixture, for the 
wretched offspring of the first Adam, — who were the right- 
ful, and most necessary heirs, by generation, of the guilt of 
the first and comprehensive apostasy of Adam and Eve, the 
common parents of all mankind. He also undertook their 
help and deliverance, and miscarried not. 3 Though the 
earth trembled under the weight of such an undertaking, 
yet he fainted not, nor was discouraged, till he was taken 
from prison and judgment, and brought forth judgment unto 

1 "Rom. 9: 5. Acts 10: 36. a Isaiah 53: 6. 3 Psalm 89. 19. 



OF SALVATION. 13 

victory; and so obtained (Menial redemption and life for 
them that believe, even those whom the Father hath given 
to him. 

2. He became also, at the same time, their representative, 
sustaining their persons. In him they are gathered together 
in one, ov, moiv properly, summed up; 1 and arc really, 
through union with Him, crucified withHim; 3 risen with 
Him ; y and entered into heaven with Him, their forerunner, 4 
who there appears adorned with their names, as so many 
precious stones upon bis breast, as well as borne upon bis 
shoulders, 5 in all his undertakings for them. Hence we are 
said to be saved in the Lord, and preserved^ Jesus Christ, 6 
as well as saved by Him. As He is Mediator, he stands as 
the collective body of all the elect; and therefore in saving 
them he is said to save himself. 7 And hence it is, that in 
whatever he did and suffered as mediator, the scope of his 
heart eyed his people, as doing their work therein. 8 And 
the Lord Jesus is thus their representative, as God's elect 
(for he is the Father's elected one 9 ), in whom the redeemed 
were elected before the world began. 10 

3. He is also their seminal cause, in his procreating virtue. 
They (even every particular person of the saved of the 
Lord), are found in Him, as every sprig of the tree is vir- 
tually in the root, as the natural cause of it. And as the 
seed that is sown has in it the growth and substance of all 
the seeds that spring and come forth from thence, as their 
generating and producing principle, so is Christ to his people. 
Hence it is, that he and they are called, not seeds, but seed ; u 
for in their original principle, they are one in him. And 
thus the kingdom of God is compared to a grain of mustard- 
seed, that, by its fruitfulness, becomes a great tree : And 
this is the leaven that leaveneth the whole lump ; 12 bring- 
ing forth a seasoning nature, according to the likeness of its 
first cause and original. And thus are believers called 
branches, whereof he is the root ; or the vine, which is the 
cause and life of the branches ; 13 and he that sanctifieth, and 
they who are sanctified, are both of one, 14 founded in the 
same eternal decree, in which Jesus Christ has the preemi- 
nence, as the first in God's eye : and the redeemed also in 

1 Eph. 1:10. 2 Gal. 2: 20. 3 Co l. 3: 1. 4 Deb. G: 19, 20. Eph. 
2: 6. 5 Exod. xxviii. G Jude I. 7 Isa. 59: 16 63: 5. 8 Isa. 26: 12. 
9 Isa. 42: 1. »° Eph. 1: 4. " Gal. 3: 16. la Matt. 13: 31—33. 
13 John 15: 5. li IIcl). 2: 11. 



14 A PRACTICAL DISCOURSE 

his eye, in him ; and both these in their own order. As the 
root is in order before the tree, and the branches which do 
spring from the root ; so is Christ first as the root, and the 
redeemed are as the branches ; and as the branches are the 
glory of the root, so is every believer the glory of Christ, 1 
and the manifestation of the fulness that is in him who fillcth 
all in all. 2 

Hitherto has salvation been considered in the foundation 
thereof, even Jesus Christ ; whom God has laid (in the con- 
stitution of his person, made up of two natures, divine and 
human), to be the ground of hope for the heirs of salvation. 
And as the foundation of Solomon's temple consisted of 
costly stones ; so does the temple of Christ's body, which 
God hath pitched and not man. 

How should the hearts of all the expectants of life rejoice, 
at the laying of the foundation by so wise a master-builder ; 
who counted the cost of the whole superstructure, when he 
drew the model of it in his eternal purpose ; and has power 
enough to carry it on ; so that neither the reproach of satan, 
nor the contradiction of man's polluted state, shall ever have 
cause to say, He laid a foundation, but had not wherewith 
to finish it ! Is the foundation so stately, and shall not gold 
and precious stones also be the building? The same mys- 
terious wonder which appeared at the first, continues still in 
the carrying on of the building. 

In all material and earthly buildings, the stones of the 
building do not, all of them, immediately touch the founda- 
tion ; but one stone of the superstructure is a mediate founda- 
tion to another, though the whole do ultimately rest upon 
the first foundation ; but in this building, every stone doth 
particularly rest upon the first foundation, and so the build- 
ing groweth to be an holy temple in the Lord ; for the Spirit 
of the foundation hath immediate influence in every stone 
that is built thereon. 3 For this cause the stones are called 
lively, or living stones, when once they rest on this living 
foundation ; and are become recipients of the life thereof, ac- 
cording to their measure. 4 

In like manner doth the mystery of this union surpass all 
other resemblances of it. It is compared to the union of a 
head and members, root and branches ; in which resemblan- 
ces, every member and every branch is not contiguous to the 

1 1 Cor. 11: 7. 2 Eph. 1: 23. 3 Eph. 2: 21, 22. * 1 Peter 2: 4, 5. 



OF B M.VATIOX. 15 

head, or to the rod ; but in this union, every member of the 
mystical body of Christ is alike Dear to the head, as concern- 
ing their real interesl therein ; they are in the head, and in 
the root immediately, and yet members and branches orderly 
and growing up to the stature and comely proportion of 
a perfect man. and a beautifully fruitful vino, in and by the 
Spirit of the Lord. 1 

80 that the nearest and most exact resemblances do but 
partially resemble this union. The relations of parent and 
child, husband and wife, shepherd and sheep, do but help us 
to taste, as it were, a drop here and there of the unspeaka- 
ble nearness and abounding fulness, delight, glory, and mu- 
tual satisfaction, of this union betwixt God and man, in the 
mystery of this Mediator. 

A Believer's Thirst. 

But, alas ! how comes it to pass that, seeing the real truth 
of this mystery is so rich and glorious, and so well ordered 
in all things ; how comes it to pass, that my soul lies like a 
withered branch, and dead limb ? O that the Lord would 
cause the wind of gospel-power so to breathe forth, that the 
dry bones might live, and my heart, as the trees of God, be 
full of sap ! 

Although the Father hath been pleased that all fulness 
should dwell in Christ, as a treasury for the redeemed to 
live in, and to live upon ; yet, unless those treasures are 
actually communicated to every needy soul that is interested 
therein, and every such soul is wrought up to some living 
improvement thereof, they are but as treasures hid in the 
earth, as an inheritance not possessed, or as a possession not 
enjoyed. Oh, how ill doth my barren heart become such an 
inquiry as this is ! What is all this treasure, unless actually 
and really enjoyed ? Could my heart truly yearn, and could 
my affections truly burn with desire after it, I might even 
now shortly hope to see the salvation of God. 

This mystery of love rises yet higher and higher. It is 
full of blessedness, and travails to be delivered ; which ap- 
pears in this : that God is willing it should be made known ; 
and therefore hath sent a message and manifestation of it to 
men. 2 And this is that which bears down all difficulties ; 

1 Eph. 4: 13. Hosea 14: 6, 7, 8. 2 Col. 1: 26, 27. 



16 A PRACTICAL DISCOURSE 

for he, who doth whatsoever he will, hath willed the dis- 
covery thereof. 

And the Spirit of Jesus Christ stands in the high places 
of the streets, to call in the poor, the blind, the lame, to par- 
take of this large provision. The Spirit cries, " Come ; " 
and it cries out, not persuasively only, but influentially by 
effectual working. His words are creating power ; and 
shall not my heart also, in the language of the bride, say, 
" Come, come, O my beloved ? " 

Now my meditations are (methinks) entering into a wide 
sea again. Shall my straitened heart and polluted soul in- 
deed change a close dungeon for a large palace, and enjoy 
liberty and purity at once ? Shall my filthy garments and 
my iniquity pass away in one day ? Who can describe the 
nature of such a change as this ? No less than the over- 
shadowing of the same Spirit, which formed Christ in the 
womb of the Virgin, doth also form him anew in every re- 
deemed soul ; and quickens it from the law of sin and death, 
to be a new creature, in holiness, righteousness, wisdom and 
truth, after the image of him that created it. 

My thoughts are now aground ; they want water to carry 
them off. Mere speculation and tradition are uncomfortable 
helps at this work. An eye-witness and an ear-witness are 
the best guides. Spiritual taste and experience can best 
dive into these truths and privileges. 

O that I might both see in my mind, and feel in my heart, 
what I am about to utter, or, at least, desire to grope after, 
in this wonder of wonders, concerning the soul's actual in- 
heriting, marrying, and possessing Jesus Christ, with all 
the admirable privileges and glory of that state ! 

Oh, for one gale of wind, one breath of the Spirit, to lift 
me over the bar of a carnal mind ; that I might close with, 
and enter into such a Saviour, such a salvation as this is ! 

Who can give a poor sinner in marriage to the Prince of 
Life ? The angel is come down, and the waters are troubled, 
but where is the hand that will lift a diseased, impotent soul 
into the healing waters ? The fields are white unto the har- 
vest : when shall the sickle enter, and the corn be brought 
into the garner ? O that Almighty power would break forth 
from the presence of God, to effect the design of his own 
pity and love ! " My flesh faileth, and my heart faileth, but 
God is the strength of my heart. Awake, O arm of the 
Lord ! divide the sea, and let thy ransomed pass over. Love 



OF SALVATION. 



17 



is strong as death," let me no! Btarve at the threshold. Be 
not withdrawn, () thou "who puttesl in thy hand by the 
hole of the tloor ; my bowels arc moved for thee." 



Christ and a Believer met together. 

There are various expressions in the scriptures, some of 
which intimate the mystery of closing with, or transition 
into Christ, in one kind, and some in another ; because any 
single expression or similitude is too little to comprehend 
the whole extent of such a union ; and hence we have, on 
the soul's part, the terms of %t committing to, or rolling on, 
the Lord," 1 in reference to ease from burdens ; and " lean- 
ing upon the beloved," 2 in reference to ease from weariness, 
with delight in that rest ; and a " waiting patiently with 
trust," 3 importing the soul's security in him ; a " giving our- 
selves to the Lord," 4 implying a free consent of the will; 
a " knowing of Christ," 5 intimating the satisfaction of the 
understanding therein ; " eating his flesh and drinking his 
blood," 6 importing the soul's constant livelihood on, and 
incorporated union with him ; and " dwelling in him," 7 
expressing shelter and intimate acquaintance. Hence also 
we have, on the part of Christ, terms equally expressive of 
his closing with the soul, such as " being known of him," 8 and 
" apprehended by him ; " 9 his being "ravished with, or losing 
his heart upon, his beloved ; " 10 his " giving himself," through 
the whole work of redemption, in a way of " love ; " u and 
" resting in that love. 12 Hence also we have the expressions 
of a " mutual and united interest, such as crucified, dead, 
buried, planted together, quickened, risen, ascended, and 
sitting in heavenly places with him : " 18 " partaking of his 
sufferings and he of ours ;" 14 "glorified in him, and he in 
us." 15 To help on this discovery, there comes in the resem- 
blance of marriage-union, the union of ingrafture, and of 
" leaven to the lump," 16 importing the winning nature which 
this union with Christ hath, in its transforming power upon 

1 Psalm 37: 5, with the marginal reading. 2 Cant. 8: 5. 8 Psalm 37: 
7. Proverbs 3: 5. 4 2 Cor. 8: 5. 5 John 17: 3. 6 John 6: 54. 7 John 
6: 56. 1 John 4: 13. y John 10: 27. Gal. 4: 9. 9 Phil. 3: 12. 10 Cant. 
4: 9, including the marginal reading. n Eph. 5: 2, 25. Gal. 2: 20. Eev. 
1: 5. la Zeph. 3: 17. 18 Gal. 2: 20. Col. 2: 20. Rom. 6: 4, 5. Col. 2: 
12. 3: 1. Eph. 2: 5. 6. 14 1 Peter 4: 13. Hebrews 4: 15. Isaiah 63: 9. 
15 2 Thcss. 1: 12. ™ Romans 7: 4. 11: 17. Matt. 13: 33. 

2 



18 A PRACTICAL DISCOURSE 

the soul, rendering it " willing" to its change in the day of 
the Spirit's overshadowing," * though ever so unsuitable, 
averse, and froward before." 2 And hence it is, that, as 
Christs aith, " Thou hast ravished my heart ;" 3 the soul saith 
in return, " Love is strong as death ; it hath a most vehe- 
ment flame : set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon 
thine arm." 4 Christ saith, "My love is as the lily among 
thorns;" and she saith, "My beloved is as the apple-tree 
among the trees of the wood." 5 They are each set forth 
as admiring one another's excellencies : and whilst Christ is 
recreating himself in that beauty which he hath put upon 
his beloved ; the believer, in that furniture with which Christ 
adorns him, familiarly, though with reverence, loves, speaks 
to, and rejoiceth in him, as one that now enjoys his person ; 
and lives, moves, breathes and acts in the person of Christ, 
by way of mystical union and participation of his grace. 
Galat. ii. 20. 

All which workings in the soul towards, about, and upon 
Christ, are in scripture comprehensively included in the 
word faith, and they are called the fruits of faith, or the va- 
rious and multiplied operations of the soul, yielding itself to 
God in Christ, wrought thereto by the Spirit of Jesus Christ 
through the gospel : for what else is faith, but an owning of 
Jesus Christ, in the manifestation and secret owning where- 
with Christ owns a sinner, by his Spirit, to pity, love, and 
save him ? What is faith else, but the digestive faculty of 
the new man, by which it feeds on Jesus Christ, and grows 
up into his likeness, in the appropriating to itself whatever 
Christ is or has done, as Mediator for sinners. 

So that faith, in all the fore-mentioned exercises of clos- 
ing with Christ, gives Christ an existence in the soul, by 
which he dwells in the heart ; 6 that as the godhead (Father, 
Son, and Spirit) dwells in Christ, so Christ dwells in the 
faith of his people ; by which they have communion with 
him, and by him have access to, and communion with 
the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, even through the operation 
of the same Spirit of the Father and of the Son. 

All the operations of the Spirit of Christ, in his will effect- 
ing this closure, are on his part called grace ; and the an- 
swerable power to receive, comply with, and improve it, by 
the same Spirit of his, is called faith. 

1 Psalm 110: 3. 2 Ezckicl 1G: 4, 5, 8, 63. 11: 12. y Cunt. 4: 9. 
4 Cant. 8: 6. 5 Cant. 2: 2, 3. « Epli. 3: 17. 



OF SALVATION. 19 

We arc said to be saved by faith, as it is an active power, 
wrought by the Spirit, for receiving and entertaining of 
Jesus Christ ; that is to say, a properly in, or possessory 
right to, his p< rson, and (hereby an Interest in the salvation 
which he hath wrought ; and is therefore called a working 
i)[' the work of God; 1 in opposition to all works of nature, 
morality and religion, wrought by human Strength and un- 
derstanding: as coals, which of themselves are cold and heat- 
Less, and do not burn at all, are yet said to burn, in that the 
nature of them is possessed, and as it were, made active, by 
the element of lire, to co-operate, to heat and burn, through 
the principle and spirit of fire which has seized on them, 
and brought them into a concurrence ; but the element of 
lire doth the whole work. In like manner, Christ doth the 
whole work of a Christian ; and yet is the Christian said to 
fulfil the law, and to work righteousness, and to save him- 
self ; 2 which is through union with Christ, in the recipient 
and active faculty of believing, wrought by his Spirit in the 
new creature. 

Christ and a Believer's Closure unfolded. 

This mutual closure between a believer and Christ is 
called by different names in the Scriptures. 

Reconciliation. 

It is called reconciliation ; 3 for as much as the enmity and 
contrariety of sinful and averse nature on man's part, and 
the distance and contrariety of the nature of God, are here- 
by removed ; in that the love of God is hereby shed abroad 
in the heart, changing and cleansing it, and filling it with 
the seeds of purity and truth, after his own image, which he 
looks upon as very good. 4 

Regeneration. 

It is also called regeneration ; 5 forasmuch as every defil- 
ing tincture of the natural birth is removed, and the soul 
brought forth from the corrupt line of the first Adam's guilt, 
into the lineage of the second Adam ; freed from the guilt 
and punishment of all natural corruption, and spirited with 

i John 6: 29. 2 Rom. 8: 4. Hcb. 11: 33. 1 Tim. 4: 16. 3 2 Cor. 5: 
18,19. 4 Gen. 1:27: 31. 5 Tit. 3: 5. 



20 A PRACTICAL DISCOURSE 

the pure life of God, to the exercise of holiness in the in- 
ward man. 

Hence it is said, " Whosoever is born of God sinneth not." 1 
The person of every believer bears the image of the two 
Adams, as two twins in one womb : the image of the first 
Adam is wholly sinful, as Adam was ; but the image of the 
second Adam, (distinctly considered,) is wholly righteous, as 
Christ is. 2 And these two natures being in one person, the 
first being spoiled of its reign and sovereignty, and become 
vassal and condemned, as dead in law ; the second bears 
chief rule, and receives the denomination of the person, and 
also the actions of the same person, proceeding from the 
renewed living, and more noble part. With regard unto 
this is the Lord said to see no iniquity in Jacob ; 3 that is, 
he seeth it not so, as to be enraged against the person of any 
true Israelite ; because he beholds it through a propitiatory 
sacrifice, and not in its naked, condemning strength and 
guilt. 

A New Creation. 

It is also called a new creature, or a new creation ; 4 in 
that free love, working through Christ, from the eternal 
purpose of God's good- will ; brings forth (of no pre-existing 
matter) a perfect righteousness, (not of the works of the 
law, but of pure grace and gift,) through union with the 
Mediator, God and Man : and the Spirit moving thereupon, 
quickens the soul from the death of nature and sin, to the 
life of grace and holiness. 

Adoption. 

It is likewise called adoption ; 5 forasmuch as the everlast- 
ing Father, begetting in himself the eternal Son, and fur- 
nishing him (in time) with the nature of man, and having 
commissioned him by decree and seal to be Mediator, gave 
him the elect remnant of mankind ; whose persons, case, and 
condition, the Mediator took into his own body by a secret 
union, for the purpose of effecting whatsoever was to have 
been done and suffered by him on their behalf : which union 
of theirs with the only begotten Son of God, through the 
Spirit, makes them also sons in him, of the same Father ; 

i 1 John 5: IS. 2 2 Cor. 5: 21. Rom. 8: 4. 3 Num. 23: 21. 

4 2 Cor. 5: 17. § Eph. 1: 5. 



OF SALVATION. 21 

by whose Spirit fliey have access to God, and may and ought 
to call him Abba. Father, as he doth ; being heirs and co- 
heirs with him of the same glory, according to their measure. 
Rom. viii. 1 1—17. Eph. ii. 18. 

What is a Christian ? 

The person that is thus owned and received by Jesus 
Christ, and by the virtue of his Spirit, owns and surrenders 
up himself to him again, is called a Christian. 

What is a Believer. 

And in that his life doth now subsist in the life of Christ, 
through this closure, (as the natural body lives by conjunc- 
tion with the natural soul,) such a person is called a believer. 
And all the actions of his new life proceeding from this 
faith, reliance on, and closing with Christ, are called the 
works of faith ; which are no other than the works and oper- 
ation of the Spirit of Christ, acting in the soul and body of 
that person, who is taken into this mysterious union and 
translation. 

Faith managing its War. 

And as there was perpetual war between the house of David 
and the house of Saul, until David was established in the 
throne ; even so it is between the Spirit and life of Christ 
in the soul, and the life of sin, which, through the defile- 
ment of the first Adam, dwells in our flesh ; which keeps 
the person of a believer in continual exercise, being as the 
seat of war, (Michael and his angels fighting with the Dra- 
gon and his angels) in which sin strives to defend, and keep 
its possession : but the Spirit of Christ in this closure with 
the heart, as a giant, refreshed in his own almighty power, 
encounters the strong man, Satan and his seed, which 
had possessed the heart, ever since the fall of our first 
parents. 

In this encounter, the Spirit of Christ, having gained the 
heart by a measure of renewing in every part, maintains and 
fortifies it, and increases it, by union with himself; and comes 
forth in the exercise and improvement of that union, by his 
power working therein mightily, to destroy the "body of sin 

2* 



22 A PRACTICAL DISCOURSE 

and opposition;" 1 which is therefore called "the fight of 
faith ;" 2 being no other than the striving of the Spirit of Jesns 
Christ, in his own renewed interest, which he has got in the 
heart, making it active to concur with him through his Spirit 
acting and moving therein ; as the Spirit of the living crea- 
tures is said to move in the wheels." 3 And this active, re- 
newed interest, being the seed of God, and spirited with 
his life and power, makes war with the remaining seed of 
the serpent, and is restless till the body of indwelling sin be 
destroyed, wasted, and worn out. Which victory is fully 
perfected at the dissolution of the body from the soul." 4 
Then are the wages paid off, and sin fully discharged to the 
believer, Rom. vi. 23. 

This combat is managed on faith's part, by discovering 
and discrediting the nature of sin, and " subduing the do- 
minion and strength thereof." 

In discovering Sin. 

The discovery of sin is wrought by union with Christ, 
who is " the light ; " 5 which sets up, as it were, a sentinel at 
every corner of the heart, and is as a lamp in the dark 
places thereof, exercising itself by a renewed conscience. 
Conscience merely natural bears a forced testimony against 
sin in the heart, and is no other than the accusing power of 
God in his most righteous law, either remaining more darkly 
in the nature of all men, since sin entered in upon them, at 
the first falling away from God in paradise ; G or more clearly 
manifested by the written law, testifying, according to the 
most righteous and holy nature of it, against all unrighteous- 
ness and unholiness of men, 7 which gendereth unto terror, 
through the repugnancy of the corrupt inclination in man's 
nature ; which corruption, to defend itself, either hides from 
conscience, and covers itself under ignorance, sensual satis- 
factions, remiss, careless inadvertency to the voice of con- 
science ; or violently compelleth conscience to speak beside 
its own true bent, or misinterpreteth the language thereof, or 
otherwise stands up in a resolved, peremptory opposition 
thereunto ; which sometimes, by the righteous judgment of 
God, renders conscience speechless, so that the corruption 

1 Eph. 4:16. 1:19,20. Col. 1: 29. 2 1 Tim. 6: 12. 2 Tim. 4: 7. 
8 Ezek. 1: 20. 4 1 Cor. 15: 44—57. 5 John 3: 21. 6 Rom. 2: 14, 15. 
7 Rom. 1: 18. 



OF SALVATION. 28 

and wickedness of the heart may, with a boundless security 
and heart-searedness, and like the people of Laish, without 
Bhame, 1 commit Bin with greediness and wanton delight. 9 
Bui when Christ enters upon the heart, he sots conscience 
at liberty, removes its letters, and causeth it to lift up its 
voice like a trumpet ; and withal makes it to close in with 
that seed of the new birth, and justifying interest in his own 
blood, which he has sown in the heart, and thereby founded 
a perpetual antipathy against sin : so that conscience, being 
succored by this renewed interest of Jesus Christ in the 
heart, doth, with approbation, pry into the whole soul, and 
present the holy nature of God there, and his righteous law, 
charging and accusing sin in its whole extent, and in the 
aggravation of all circumstances ; with which the renewed 

re ' 

heart w illingly concurs, and so hasteneth away to the mercy 
seat. And thus the mutual closing between Christ and the 
soul tends much to discover sin, and strip it of its former 
defences. The same conviction is now become a friend, 
that was before an enemy ; and this renewed interest in 
the soul answers the conviction of conscience, (as Jezebel's 
eunuch's did to the command of Jehu,) 3 with present 
execution ; and cries out, " So let thy enemies perish, O 
Lord." 

In discrediting Sin. 

Faith likewise appears, in the virtue of this closure with 
Christ, to discredit sin ; for herein the crucified body of 
Jesus Christ displays the venomous nature of sin ; and by 
the spotlessness of his nature manifested to the heart, in the 
power of convincing light, through the matchless perfection 
thereof, causeth the shame and nakedness of sin to appear ; 
demonstrating its deceit, false promises, unsatisfying content, 
and merciless embracements. So that sin, upon this discov- 
ery and discredit which have passed upon it, doth drive the 
soul to the city of refuge, viz. free justification by the blood 
of Christ ; wdiich, reflecting back upon the heart, causes im- 
partial examination, and sharp remorse ; drawing forth sin 
to be crucified on Christ's cross in the same posture, without 
lessening or concealing thereof, in which it stood, while it 
was working rebellion against the Lord : which operation of 

1 Judges 18: 7. a Eph. 4: 19. 3 2 Kings 9: 32, 33. 



24 A PRACTICAL DISCOURSE 

the new man, in the mutual closure betwixt Christ and the 
soul, is called " repentance unto life." 

In Subduing Sin, 

Faith yet goes further, in subduing the power of sin. 
Sin rageth in the guilt and defiling nature of it. The guilt 
is removed, in that Christ, in this closure, lets the heart 
know that he hath owned its guilt. In the same day in 
which he performed the office of a kinsman, in taking our 
nature and bearing our sins, he inherited also the guilt of 
our persons ; (as was prefigured in the law concerning re- 
demption of inheritances ; Ruth iv. 5.) So that, in this 
closing with Christ, the guilt passeth away from the person 
closing with Christ, who freed himself again from the same, 
by an infinite satisfaction, offering up himself through the 
eternal Spirit and power of his godhead. 1 And the heart, 
being quickened by this closure, puts to its seal, and in the 
power of that closure triumpheth over all sorts of guilt, be- 
cause it is " Christ that died, and God that justifieth." 

Hence likewise ariseth the power to wipe out the defile- 
ment of sin, in that the understanding is furnished with 
reason against it ; " How shall I, who am dead to sin with 
Christ, live any longer therein?" Which just and true 
reasoning, being carried on and strengthened by the virtue 
of the death of Christ, (secretly wrought by the Spirit of 
union with Christ) crucifieth sin day by clay ; and, through 
the improvement of one conviction after another, brings the 
soul to loathe and be sick of sinful self ; when, through an 
inward virtue of the resurrection of Christ, it rises up from 
the enslaving power of it, and seeks the things above : for 
at the same time that Christ's human nature was loosed from 
the bonds of death, all the redeemed virtually entered into 
their freedom and dominion over sin; which privilege of 
grace is more and more brought to the conscience, heart, 
and life of the elect, by the conveyance of the power of the 
Spirit of God, in the revelation of their interest in Christ 
risen from the dead ; and by faith and willing closure with 
him, (which is called a marriage to him) " they bring forth 
fruit unto God." 2 And thus they pass, through mortifica- 
tion, into the operations of a new life: 3 so that sin, being 
thus discovered, discredited, and so far subdued, lies ready 

i Heb. 9: 14. 10: 14 2 Rom. 7: 2—4. 3 1 Pet 4: 2. 



OF 8 w.v LTION. 25 

to expire and take its leave. And what a salvation is Hii> 
which God has wrought in himself for sinners after such a 
rate ! 

And vet, alas ! how apt am I to carnalize this work of 
faith, and make it a work of my own! To work by not 
working, and yei herein to work: here lieth the difficulty 5 
here lies true self-denial. A work wrought without mo, yet 

wrought upon mo, and working mo into the activity of the 
spirit of my Redeemer, by the operation thereof; so that 
what he doth I am said to do, and enabled to do, singly and 
simply in the quickening interest of his life and power, 
working, and causing me to work therein the works of God. 
Neither men nor angels can reveal this. So that a believer 
may cry out, "I am wonderfully and fearfully made." 1 But 
that counsel, that contrived the new creature, and curiously 
wrought it in the secrets of his own purpose, is able to reveal 
it. " Who knoweth the things of God, but the Spirit of 
God, and he to whom the Spirit doth declare them ? " 2 Oh 
that I might be led powerfully into this inquiry, and changed 
into the stamp of such a translating life and power, by the 
Spirit of the Lord ! 

It is called a transformation, through the " renewing of the 
mind." 3 The old, unrenewed mind draws all its arguments 
and reasoning from things below, that are among men, and 
conformed to the principles of human ability, capacity, or 
reason ; but this transformation in the renewed mind draws 
all its arguments from the design of new-covenant grace ; 4 
and from the ability, capacity, and reason of the spirit and 
power of Jesus Christ, who has carried away the soul from 
its own interest, into the rightful interest and active method 
of the spirit of his cross, resurrection, and life ; and suffers 
no conclusions to be made but from these premises, and ac- 
cording to the rules of such reasoning, w r hich the apostle di- 
recteth to, Rom. vi. 11. 

This transformation by faith, or closure with Christ, is 
influentially argumentative. Through the soul's beholding 
of the glory of a God, in whom it has an interest, in the 
person of a Mediator, it is changed (in a measure through- 
out) into the same image, by his Spirit ; and its understand- 
ing argues in the power and facility of a renewed instinct, 

1 Psalm 139: 14. 2 1 Cor. 2: 10, 11. * Rom. 12: 2. 

* Lzek. 36: 26, 27. 



2(j A PRACTICAL DISCOURSE 

accompanied with the breathing of the Spirit, suited to the 
region of this change, and so bears the soul into the vision, 
power, and truth of this mysterious new state. 

The Soul yet thirsts for a further View. 

that my gracious God would guide my eye and my 
heart a little further .into this inquiry, not for curiosity, but 
for renewing my dark mind, and unmortified will, to a 
powerful conformity to his revealed will ! Doubtless, faith 
hath a strange pasture to feed in, and a wonderful trans- 
forming glass to behold its redemption through. 

The infinite God humbles himself into the lowest form of 
man's nature ; l and yet retains his infinite being still, which 
the heaven of heavens is not able to contain. This is that 
condescension which the angels pry into, and take it up by 
degrees, as they find it manifested to men in the ministration 
of the gospel, preached unto, and received by them, through 
the Spirit. 2 

God comes down into the very nature of all mankind, in 
the union of the single body of Jesus Christ with the in- 
comprehensible essence, in the person of the Son. " The 
Word, which is very God, was made flesh, 3 and God dwell- 
eth in him, 4 and really, legally, and judicially transacteth the 
whole business of redemption in that body, as the determined 
and fitted substitute of every individual person of the elect ; 
making the work prosperously perfect, on their behalf in the- 
person of Christ, who was born at Bethlehem, who suffered 
death at Jerusalem, and rose again ; transmitting the virtue 
thereof by his Spirit through the gospel, in some measure 
to the understanding and conscience of every one whose 
person he sustained, that their faith and hope might be in 
God ; 5 and thai they might enjoy whatever he purchased as 
their own possession. They suffered in his stripes, satisfied 
divine justice in his death, fulfilled the law to a tittle in 
his perfect righteousness, are ascended in his victory, and 
are sons and heirs of God, in the interest they have in his 
person, through that human nature of their own which he 
assumed to himself. This plea has faith to make by way 
of answer to all the powers of darkness.* God, in the 
second person, manage th all man's work in that human 

1 Phil. 2: 6—8. 2 Eph. 3: 10. « John 1: 1,14. 4 Col. 2: 9. 
5 1 Peter 1: 21. 6 1 Peter 3: 21. 



SALVATION* 

nature, as truly aa it' he had been only man. He overcomes, 
and completes redemption for them, as fully as the perfection 
of the divine essence could do it Human nature did no 
way weaken divine power, bul (as it were) capacitate it for 
man's cure, that God might be just, and yet the justifierof 

sinful man. This real taking of man's nature into personal 
union, and every elected one, in the interest of that nature, 
into union also, (which is called mystical union,) makes the 
infinite God, who is a Spirit, delight to use man's language 

of himself, in the way of man ; namely, to walk, to sup with 
them: and also those expressions of the parts of man's body, 
arms, hands, mouth, eyes, face and the like, so frequently 
used in the scriptures, as evidences of the indissoluble union 
between the divine and human nature, which in the fulness 
of time he actually assumed ; and which being assumed into 
the person of the Son, every elected one is capacitated to 
receive the same Spirit of the Son, whereby they cry Abba, 
Father, in the interest they have, through him and his re- 
demption, in his Father ; * which is the very inlet of that 
closure betwixt Christ and his members, that are redeemed, 
mentioned before ; in the virtue of which closure by the 
Spirit, Christ owns their spirit, soul, and body to be his, 2 and 
all their actions and sufferings upon his account, to be his 
also. And they, as far as they, by his Spirit, live in the 
virtue of this closure, act nothing but the life of Christ 
Jesus, the Lord dwelling in them. Hence it is that so often 
expressions to that sense are used by the apostle Paul : " I 
salute you in the Lord ; " 3 " my ways which are in Christ ; " 4 
u my work in the Lord ; " 5 " this I say and testify in the 
Lord ; " 6 "I rejoiced in the Lord ; " 7 " I speak the truth in 
Christ ;" 8 and when-speaking of others, " every good thing 
which is in you in Christ Jesus ;" 9 "refresh my bowels in 
Lord;"* " be strong in the Lord ; " n " stand fast in the 
Lord ; be of the same mind in the Lord ; " 12 and so, in 
reference to conjugal and other relations; "neither is the 
man without the woman, nor the woman without the man, in 
the Lord;" 13 "the wife, if her husband be dead, is at 
liberty to be married to whom she will, only in the Lord ; " 14 
" Children, obey your parents in the Lord;" 15 "ye serve 

1 Gal. 4: 6. " 1 Cor. 6: 20. 3 Pvom. 1G: 22. 4 1 Cor. 4; 17. 

5 1 Cor. 9: 1. G Eph. 4: 17. 7 Phil 4: 10. 8 1 Tim. 2: 7.J 

9 Philemon G. » Philemon 20. n Eph. G: 10. 

12 Phil. 4: 1. 2. 13 1 Cor. 11: 11. l * 1 Cor. 7: 39. I5 Eph. 6: 1. 



28 A PRACTICAL DISCOURSE 

the Lord Christ ; " l speaking of the obedience of servants 
to their masters ; with many such like expressions, flowing 
from the life of faith in Christ, through that mutual closure 
between him and the soul, acting in and by the rules of that 
life of Christ truly and really dwelling in them, and exerted 
by those words and actions used in his name. For this 
cause the apostle saith, the believing Corinthians were not 
their own, 2 but Christ's ; as an argument against defiling 
their bodies, which are said to be " members of his body." 3 

From this ground, faith, as the active flame rising up from 
the warmth of this mutual closure with Christ, seizes and 
fastens upon all the promises in the scriptures, whether ab- 
solute or conditional. If absolute, they are made in Christ. 
If conditional, the condition lies upon his power to perform, 
and all the privilege is theirs ; because the promises are 
made to him, and he and they are one spirit, in this closure 
and marriage which he has made. His person, and so all his 
achievements and rewards, are theirs ; the care of their 
bodies, lives, estates, credit, comfort of relations, all lies upon 
him ; because they are his, in whatever they are. Upon this 
ground, the Lord saith with his own mouth, by the prophet, 
" Whosoever toucheth you, toucheth the apple of mine 
eye ; " 4 and when the saints were persecuted, Christ said, 
" He was persecuted ; " 5 hence it is, that David saith, " I am 
thine, save me," Ps. cxix. 94. 

But (methinks) while my meditation is stepping from one 
view of the inheritance to another, I find a great aptness to 
lose the method of, and the united conformity to, the whole 
pattern of my Mediator. While I am viewing his life, and 
the operations of it, I skip away from his cross ; and do for- 
get, that the virtue of his death goes along with him in all 
the steps of his work ; whereas I find that the same apostle, 
who saw him, in a vision, clothed with power, splendor and 
glory, 6 saw him also as a lamb that was slain. 7 The virtue 
and power of his incarnation and death abides with him, as 
the primitive constitution, that cleared the way, and fitted 
him for the glorious achievements of his exaltation ; answera- 
ble unto which, the Spirit of the gospel works prosperously, 
when it mortifies in quickening, when it destroys in saving, 
when it emptieth in filling, and pulleth down in building up. 
Though Christ may not, and cannot be brought again to the 

1 Col. 3: 24. 2 1 Cor. 6: 19. 3 1 Cor. 6: 15. 4 Zech. 2: 8. 

5 Acts 9: 4. 6 Rev. 1: 13—16. * Rev. 5: G. 



NATION. 29 

grave; (he dieth no more, Rom. vi. ( .).) because he hath 
made an end of Bin, by the sacrifice of himself, offered up 

once i'ov all, and hath perfected forever them thai arc sancti- 
fied, and Bel them apart, by the merit thereof, from condem- 
nation, at the bar oi' divine justice, in his own person ; yet 
the applying virtue o\' this, by faith, still remains vigorous, 
with the rest of the excellencies of his mediatorship, to out- 
plead the guill and punishment of sin, and the fear thereof, 
from mole-ting the conscience, which otherwise is not able to 
give constant answers, and drive back the darts of the evil 
one. 1 This virtue of his death is that, which doth also bring 
forth in the soul a self-denying liberty; for the perfect me- 
diator, by his Spirit, doth make all things new, according to 
the image oi' his own person ; in which respect, the redeemed 
are called, not only sons of God in Christ, as interested in 
his person by the mystical union through the Spirit, but also 
sons of Christ, in that the image of the Mediator, in every 
part of that office, is drawn, and (as it were) propagated into 
the souls of the redeemed, through the inward working of 
his own Spirit, which is the Spirit of a crucified, buried, risen, 
and glorified Saviour : and such a salvation in such a 
Saviour, doth the Spirit, by a lively and powerful faith, form 
in every new creature. So that a new creature may be thus 
described : it is the virtue of the death and resurrection of 
Jesus Christ, subduing the old man, resting in the heart, and 
working it to a lively conformity to the Mediator, by receiv- 
ing every impression of his image. 

Salvation in Christ's Person for a Believer originally. 

As the sense and relish of these workings between Christ 
and the soul are not always clearly discerned, it is of great 
use (both for the knowledge of one's eternal interest in him, 
and to derive, in true method, grace and strength to help in 
time of need), to consider well, that the happiness and safety 
of a Christian do not originally lie in the exercise of faith, 
or any other grace ; but in God himself, obliged by cove- 
nant, confirmed in Jesus Christ. So that when faith fails, 
lie fails not ; "he cannot deny himself." 2 He himself be- 
ing the portion of his people, feeds their faith with strength 
and discoveries thereof. And as the actual closing betwixt 

1 Heb. 10. 2. 9: 14. 2 2 Tim. 2: 13. 
3 



30 A PRACTICAL DISCOURSE 

Christ and the soul come down from that covenant which 
God made with Christ, and, in him, with his members ; and 
continues everlastingly, by its relation to that covenant, as 
the root in which God has given himself to his people, and 
engaged to perfect whatever concerns them ; therefore the 
soul is, at the first view, to look upon God, as he has mani- 
fested himself in Christ, and by faith to rely upon him as 
freely, as he did freely enter into covenant. He looked upon 
man in all his misery, and made a covenant with him in the 
Mediator. Our work is also to look upon him, assenting to, 
and claiming interest in, that covenant. 

When God, by his Spirit, doth close with the soul in Jesus 
Christ, and refresheth it in that change, he doth not allow 
that soul to feed (sensually as it were) on that refreshment, 
but on him ; between whom and the soul Christ ratified a 
covenant by his death, etc. So that every particle of such 
refreshment lies properly in this, that a voluntarily covenant- 
ed God doth, in such or such manifestations, declare himself; 
and not in the manifestations themselves, singly considered. 

Salvation offered to all alike. 

As God hath been pleased to declare a covenant-recon- 
ciliation to every creature that is under heaven, 1 no person, 
in that visible dispensation, is excluded ; but all have an 
equal right and nearness to that reconciliation, in the outward 
call : and no person is allowed to think, that any other has 
now a more native privilege than himself thereto, or one a 
more easy way to attain it than another. It is a holding out 
of grace to men altogether sinful, and equally miserable ; 
and so it considers them, Rom. iii. from the 10th to the 20th 
verse. The ground for encouragement to lay hold upon the 
offer, is one and the same to every living human creature, 
which is, the declared willingness of God, in the engage- 
ment of the whole essence, to save sinners, 1 Tim. ii. 4, 
Ezek. xxxiii. 11. And thus Jesus Christ is set forth as a 
propitiation for the sins of every man in the world ; 2 so far 
as the word of the gospel reacheth in the declaring of it, and 
all the privileges of the covenant of grace, relating to this 
life, and that to come. And it is proclaimed equally to all, 
upon the bare invitation to believe it, and receive it. So 

1 Col. 1: 23. 2 1 John 2: 2. 



OF SALVATION. 31 

that the reason why one believes and receives, and another 
doth not, ariseth no! from any difference at all in the invita- 
tion itself; ' but faith being the gift of God, he giveth it to 
whomsoever he will : s and doth thereby secretly distinguish 

between the purpose of his election, and his final rejection 
or desertion; and between the intentional and decreed virtue 
of Christ's death to some, and the manifested exhibition, and 
Betting forth of the same only, in the public offer of the 
gospel, to others : the discovery whereof (especially on the 
refusers' part) is reserved until the day of the declaration of 
the righteous judgment of God. 

The thought of God's secret decree ought to be so far 
from discouraging any, that it should rather put the soul 
upon a diligent attending to the invitation of the covenant of 
grace ; and in so doing, that soul shall, without fail, find the 
promise, John vi. 37, made good ; and his " election made 
sure," 2 Pet. i. 10. 

All that are saved, are saved by laying hold on the re- 
vealed will of God. 3 " Revealed things belong to us ; " 4 
and they lie with the same open indulgence to all, where the 
gospel comes : they are not straitened in themselves, or in 
the dispensers of them. 5 " Whosoever will, let him come 
and take the water of life freely ; " one as well as another. 6 

I have now reason to bewail the foolish niggardliness of 
my own heart, and the shyness that is in me, from the 
abounding freeness that is in the offers and invitations of 
grace and reconciliation. The good will of the Lord shines 
forth to the whole world ; and, did not the hearts of men 
hide themselves under a wilful unbelief, and withdrawing 
from it, it would necessarily shine into them : which ariseth, 
partly, from a root of wilfulness ; 7 and partly from the de- 
lusion of Satan, who " blindeth the eyes of the mind, that 
the light of the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ should not 
shine into their hearts." 8 Hence it is that the prophet calls 
forth, Isa. xlii. 18, "Hear, ye deaf; and look, ye blind;" 
and again, Isa. xliii. 8, " Bring forth the blind which have 
eyes, and the deaf that have ears : " as speaking to persons 
who hide, and withdraw themselves into holes, although the 
revealed pleasure of the Lord (for his righteousness, and 
covenant sake) is to make the law of his grace great and 

1 Acts 17: 30. 2 Eph. 2: 8. 8 Eph. 3: 5, 6. 4 Dcut. 29: 29. 

5 2 Cor. 6: 11. 12. 6 Rev. 22: 17. * p sa lm 81: 11. K 2 Cor. 4: 4. 



32 A PRACTICAL DISCOURSE 

large, and himself herein glorious; as the 19th, 20th, and 
21st verses seem to import. The great misery of man lies, 
not in any difference or inequality in the tender of grace to 
one more than another, where it is tendered, but in " re- 
fusing," 1 " rejecting," 2 " neglecting," 3 " despising," 4 and 
" withdrawing from it." 5 And whereas sinful man has will 
to evil, and to resist good, 6 and no will to good ; 7 (" for his 
very mind and conscience is defiled.") 8 This arises not from 
any defect in the dispensation of grace, but from that cap- 
tivity to Satan, in which they are held. 9 Neither is the 
freedom of the dispensation of grace, held forth to the world, 
any more hindered thereby, than the sun is hindered from 
shining, by the defect of sight in a blind man. Neither also 
can the outward dispensation of grace any more change the 
heart, than the sun can open the eyes of the blind, without 
the inward working of the Spirit, which " bloweth where 
it listeth." 10 Neither could the opened eye and greatest con- 
victions be of any use, if there were not a dispensation of 
new-covenant mercy held forth to all men, as the sun which 
shines in the firmament of the gospel. So that, thai which 
makes an absolute soul-cure, is, the secret working of the 
Spirit, giving conviction and change to the whole soul, and 
inclining it to hear and see the good-will of the Lord pro- 
claimed in the gospel ; which is carried (as it were) into the 
midst of heaven, and enlightens the day of salvation with the 
excellency of free acceptance to all comers. 

Hereby the great hindrance, through doubt and fear of 
not acceptance, is removed ; for the whole light of the day 
of grace, which, since Christ ascended, shines forth to all 
people, 11 is acceptation of returning sinners. It is a day 
formed by the Lord for that very purpose; 12 a day of re- 
markable wonder ; Psalm cxviii. 22 — 24. compared with 
1 Pet. ii. 4, 7. which is the very ground of the apostle's ex- 
hortation, " To-day, if ye will hear his voice, harden not 
your hearts." 13 From the womb of this new day, which has 
visited the earth, is the Spirit sent forth, in the ordinances 
and gospel-means, to gather the elect seed, as a dew from 
the Lord ; and to make them effectually to see what is the 
fellowship of this mystery of good-will to men, and the un- 

1 Acts 7: 57. Isaiah 1: 20. Jer. 9: 6. 2 Acts 13: 46. Jcr. 6: 19. 
3 Heb. 2: 3. 4 Rom. 2: 4. 5 Ilcb. 10: 39. 6 Jer. 44: 16, 17. 

7 1 Cor. 2: 14. 8 Tit, 1: 15. 9 2 Tim. 2: 26. ,0 1 Cor. 12: 11. John 
3: 8. " Rev. 14: 6. ]2 2 Cor. 6: 2. ™ Heb. 3: 13—15. 



OF SAIA A HON. <')3 

searchable riches of Christ, displayed therein. 1 And thus 

(loth the Spirit, by convictions, and a secret drawing virtue, 
send away the penitent sinner, by faith, to JesllS Christ, 
upon the aCCOUnl of the free tender which he makes of him- 
self, in the dispensation of the covenant of grace, which he 
continued in his blood, and caused it to be held forth and 
preached to every creature. 

The Soul yet thirsts and inquires. 

Fain would my soul send forth a few meditations more, 
to spy out this good land ; and, oh ! let them not return 
without some grapes, some cheering liquor, as a witness of 
the fruitfulness of this good and delightful country ; where 
the mystery of truth, pardon, and life doth inhabit to that 
end. 

The Object of Faith's Eye. 

My next inquiry is, to know w r hat is the object of the eye 
of faith, in this general dispensation of grace ; and how to 
exercise the levelling of my eye thereto. 

The main tendency of faith is to God himself manifested 
in the flesh, united to man's nature, and therein doing the 
w T hole work of redemption. 

This humanizing (as it were) of the Deity, was exerted 
and put forth, in constituting the Son of God to be the Son of 
man ; whose constitution made him agreeable to his name^ 
Emmanuel, God with us. 

In his person, all mediating work is wrought, by taking 
upon himself the cause of distance, viz. the sin of man, and 
wrath of God ; and the enmity on man's part, and the irre- 
concilableness on God's part, thereby ; for discharging of 
which, he is made a high-priest, and so he procures it, and 
maintains it, in the power of a king ; and reveals it as a 
prophet : All which offices he was anointed to, and qualified 
for, in his own person. And by reason of that essential 
union with the Godhead in which he stood, the Father de- 
lights in, and owns him as the Son of man ; and doth every 
way suit with him, as the father of such a Son, who is both 
God and man. The Spirit too, which proceedeth from 
the Father and the Son, doth (through the same union 
of the divine essence) also suit with him, and operate by 
and through him, as the Spirit of him who is both 

1 Eph. 3: 8, 9. 
3* 



34 A PRACTICAL DISCOURSE 

God and man in one person. Hence arises the perfec- 
tion and absolute completeness of the mediatorship. I 
am not alone, (saith Christ,) but I and the Father that sent 
me i 1 And the comforting Spirit shall receive of mine, and 
shall show it unto you ; John xvi. 14. For the fulness of 
the Godhead dwelleth in him bodily ; 2 and jointly carries 
on the work of mediatorship : which was personally under- 
taken by the eternal Son, who is made Emmanuel. And 
this satisfies the request which Philip made, Show us the 
Father. Hast thou not seen me ? (saith Christ,) He that 
hath seen me, (viz. by the eye of faith, as I really am, and 
ought to be looked upon) hath seen the Father. 3 Every 
action and revelation of himself is the revelation of the 
Father, Son, and Spirit, in the distinguishable working of 
each person, and yet united in the same God, who worketh 
all in all. 4 Christ suffered as the Son of such a Father ; 
and the Father (in this design of mediatorship) was clothed 
with a true fatherly relation to the incarnate, suffering Son ; 
and the eternal Spirit, which proceedeth from the Father 
and the Son, did put forth his almighty essential virtue, in 
the offering up of the body of Christ upon the cross : which 
union of Father, Son and Spirit, in God our Saviour, 5 
appears in John xvii. 21. and Heb. ix. 14. taken together. 
So that all the persons, in the saving of man, do (as it were) 
concentre, and work together in the person of the Mediator. 
The will of the Father, John iv. 34. The mercy of the 
Son, Heb. iv. 13 — 15. And the power of the Spirit, Heb. 
ix. 14. and Rom. i. 4. All which being one in the divine 
essence of God, meet together in the person of the Son, who 
is, according to the eternal decree, God and man, through 
his union with and in the Godhead. 

God thus manifested in the flesh, and, as Father, Son, 
and Spirit, laying the foundation of mediatorship in Jesus 
Christ, the eternal Son, God and man, dotli also, in and with 
him, carrying it on, as a father to, and Spirit of him, who is 
God-man. And for this cause, the gospel is called the word 
of truth ; not only in respect of the matter of it, but of the 
legal testimony that it receives from these three witnesses, 
as the declaration of the counsel of their own essential will 
and purpose. 

1 John 8: 16. 2 Col. 2: 9. y John 14: 7—9. 4 1 Cor. 12: f>. 
5 Tit. 2: 13. 



01 SAI.YA I [OK. 

And in regard that the Son of God, in the name and 
co-working of Father, Son, and Spirit, undertook the Medi- 
atorship, by taking Man's nature, every mortal person, thai 
has the nature of man, stands alike near to 1dm, in ill! 1 dis- 
pensation of the gospel-call. It puis aside other mediators: 
the angels are spirits, and have not human nature, in which 
to mediate for man : Christ himself is nearer to us than 
they are ; lie i> man. The spirits of just men made perl ret 
cannot mediate for us ; for though they are human, yet they 
want Living bodies : but Christ has his human body with 
him ; and therefore is nearer to men, who are clothed with 
flesh. Neither can one mortal man mediate as a mediator 
betwixt God and man ; because, though he have the human 
nature in him, yet it is in him personally, and not represent- 
ing the whole race of man, as the pure nature of Christ, 
the second Adam, doth : And besides, mortal man is but 
man ; but Christ is both God and man, that he may lay his 
hands on both parties, God and man, to reconcile them to- 
gether, as they are reconciled in the person of the mediator. 1 
Promises cannot mediate ; for man has no right to them, but 
through Christ first. Duties cannot mediate ; because they 
are loathsome, without an interest in Christ. Graces cannot 
mediate, because they are fruits of reconciliation through the 
Mediator ; the fruit cannot be the cause of the root from 
whence it comes. 

So that, as Jesus Christ, in being Mediator, took our na- 
ture (viz. that human nature that is in every person of man- 
kind) into immediate union with the Godhead dwelling in 
his person, this same Jesus Christ, God and man (in the rela- 
tion he bears to the Father and Spirit, and they to him, in 
their mutual concurrence with him in this great work of 
his mediation, having sealed and anointed him thereto, that 
he might completely effect it) is the true immediate object of 
a believer's eye : and he who, renouncing all other names 
and helps flees thither, shall be saved by him ; for " Every 
one that seeth the Son, and believeth on him, shall have 
have everlasting life." 2 His appearing in the promises doth 
make them a convoy to bring the soul to him ; which would 
otherwise, be no better guides, than the light to a blind man. 
His presence in duties makes them the way and door of ap- 
proach ; which would otherwise be no better guides, by single 

1 Col. 1: 19—22. 2 John 6: 40. 



36 A PRACTICAL DISCOURSE 

gazing on, and using of them, than a lantern in a man's 
hand, can be a guide by gazing on it, and leading himself 
round about in a circle, by the light thereof, not minding the 
way, or the door, to find which that light was appointed and 
intended. The graces of his Spirit are the beams of that 
excellency that is in his person, and the streams which flow 
from the fountain, which are subject to intermission and 
stoppage, without the constant supply which they receive 
from the sun and the fountain. And, therefore, a believer's 
eye and aim must be tending to an immediate fixing upon, 
and closing with Christ himself, as the proper course and 
sure way, and only orderly means, to find rest and safety to 
the soul. 

The Aim of Faith's Eye desirous to attain its Mark. 

The next considerable thing is, to inquire how the eye of 
faith is to be levelled at, and exercised upon, this perfect 
and glorious object, so as to change the soul from bearing 
the burden of its own guilt, and to get power against the 
defiling nature and power of sin ; and so to carry on the 
change from glory to glory, after the image of Jesus Christ, 
by the virtue of his Spirit. 1 

The dispensation of the gospel is the glass ; and the glory 
of the Lord there appearing, is that which faith fixeth and 
feedeth upon. It passeth through the glass, and seizeth 
upon Jesus Christ, represented therein ; and there stays, till 
it hath enamored the soul into the same likeness. The glory 
of Christ begets an image of glory in the heart of a believer, 
of the same nature with itself. 

Indeed, there is a transient closing with the promises, as 
with a neighbor, who can tell where the soul's friend dwell- 
eth ; and of this use are the ordinances : and so far the 
Spirit of the Father lodgeth in them, for the help of the 
diligent seeker, to draw him to Christ. The first motion 
also of that diligent seeking proceedeth from the Father, 
who worketh with the Son, by the Spirit, to draw the soul 
to the person of the Son, as Mediator ; in whom the Father, 
Son, and Spirit give the soul a satisfactory meeting. 2 

But the knot of union, by which the soul partakes of the 
life and glory of God, is not perfectly knit, till the soul actu- 
ally enters into the fellowship of Christ, the Mediator; 3 and 

1 2 Cor. 3: 18. 2 John 5: 17. 6: 44, 45. 14: 23. 3 1 Cor. 1: 9. 



OF SALT at; 

for this very end, serves the preaching of the gospel, in the 
dispensation of it. 1 

The bouI being thus ushered in, treats with and fixeth on 
Christ absolutely and immediately ; and lays hold on his 
personal worth only, as the foundation of its hope and help. 
The soul has gained a great deal of beauty in Christ's i 
when once it is brought, by his Spirit, to Leave its own idols, 
and forsake its own country, and to trust singly under the 
shadow oi' his wings : there blessedness begins, as Boaz 
said to Ruth. 2 

And here the soul closetli with the all-sufficiency of the 
Mediator, pondering the large extent thereof. And whereas 
the soul is usually more troubled about the aggravations of 
Bin, and the circumstances thereof, than about the sin itself, 
and for its insincerity, and want of feeling remorse, and suf- 
ficient detestation against sin, in its repentance ; and is much 
molested with the stain that guilt leaves on the conscience ; 
and finding, that neither removal of guilt, nor power of 
cleansing, nor freedom from its just accusation, can be got 
from the consultations of a wounded spirit, it falls nakedly 
on the all-sufficiency of the Mediator ; and there it beholds 
him, as one able to take away all sins, in their whole extent. 
His body was given him for that end: and although his own 
body was pure, yet it was in the likeness of the flesh of sin, 
or sinful flesh, and depravation of nature, received from 
Adam, Rom. viii. 3. that as far as motions of sin, or capacity 
of sinning, is found in mankind, he did bear the likeness of 
that state. And so he is called the second Adam : not only 
as one representing the elect seed of grace, but also as being 
the superadequate antidote, to conquer and remove all poison 
that entered upon mankind by the sin of the first Adam. 
The nature of the second Adam is made as perfectly holy, 
as that of the first was defiled by sin, and became perfectly 
sinful, as appears in Rom. v. And in regard that the 
strength and slaying power of sin lies in the law, his human 
nature was made under the law, subjected to the whole law, 
as far as it had to do with sinful man, for this end, that he 
might redeem them who were under the law, from being 
under any condemning or accusing sentence, or sting of pun- 
ishment from thence ; which he bringeth about by obeying 
it, and satisfying for the breach thereof made by sinful man. 

1 Col. 1: 28. 1 John 1: 1—3. 2 Ruth 2: 11, 12. 



38 A PRACTICAL DISCOURSE 

Sin is therefore sin, because it is against the law ; he there- 
fore is made under the law, and that to fulfil its commands, 
and bear its doom. Though sin be finite in the transgressor, 
yet is it infinite in respect of the object, the infinite God. 
But the obedience and suffering of Christ was of an infinite 
extent, in respect of the person, because it was the act of 
God-man ; and in the virtue also, because it was a contrived 
remedy, in the counsel of God's love, to outstretch the injury 
that was done to the infinite divine majesty, by finite man. 
Hence it is, that this remedy carries with it the terms of 
" abounding grace ; " x and " unsearchable riches." 2 The all- 
sufficiency lies also in this, that it is a free gift, considering 
that the gifts of God's love are infinite, as his nature is ; the 
thoughts of which do, by faith, bring in a foundation for in- 
finite justification and righteousness ; and a way is thereby 
made to the rest of the purchased possession, that lies in the 
person of the same Redeemer ; the infiniteness of his good- 
ness, and drift in this design, which could never suffer disap- 
pointment ; the infiniteness of his wisdom, that could never 
mistake ; the infiniteness of his love that can never cease ; 
and the infiniteness of his power, which can never fail. 

And since the nature of the salvation of God is infinite, 
it is brought down into the person of God-man ; and from 
him into the ordinances ; and so by the Spirit, into the heart 
of man ; retaining still its infinite nature. In Jesus Christ, 
the infinite God is made flesh ; in the ordinances, he speaks 
by man's voice ; in the faith of the heart he dwelleth ; carry- 
ing the soul (by the operation of his Spirit, to look upon 
him, and hear his voice in the steps of his condescension) to 
the true enjoyment of himself. 

Faith taking a right Method. 

It is comfortable to have the testimony of a good conscience, 
and power over corruption and soul-disquiet thereby : but I 
must not begin there. God begins my righteousness and 
freedom in himself, and brings it forth in the person of Jesus 
Christ : I must begin it there also ; and, as it is perfected in 
him, 3 1 must perfectly derive it thence, continuing perpetually 
at that spring, 4 never expecting to have it mended, by anything 
I could do, though it were the obeying of the whole law : for 

1 Rom. 5: 17,20. 2 Eph. 3: 8. 8 Heb. 10: 14. 4 Gal. 2: 20, 21. 



Of SALVATION. OV 

my obedience is bul the obedience of a stained nature, thai has 
already broken that righteous law. When the guilt, defile- 
ment, and weaknessofa foolish, depraved heart, lie upon me 

as a lump of lead, I gel nothing 1))' talking with them ; as 
Solomon Baith of the fool, ''Answer not a fool according to 
his folly, lest thou he like him." 1 For this talking with guilt 
and weakness, draweth my soul (which is made tree indeed 
by the Son of God) to the likeness of that guilt and weak- 
ness, and my justified conscience begins again to lick up the 
old vomit of fear and bondage ; but my work is then to cast 
myself, by naked reliance, on him who "justifieth the un- 
godly ;"* as being compassed about with the guard of God's 
free, everlasting justification, in the person of Jesus Christ : 
then, having the shelter of this guard, I may return, and 
plead with guilt, and hear the complaints of my heart, and 
the accusations of my conscience, and give them answers 
from the fulness of Christ's atonement : and thus again : the 
fool (if such a term may be used in this comparison) is an- 
swered, "lest he should be wise in his own conceit:" 3 I 
mean that spirit of bondage, wdiich by the advantage of my 
own sin, pleads rationally against my peace, till faith comes 
with the tongue of the learned, and pleads the mystery of 
free grace, against the plea of reason ; and the righteousness 
of Christ and his holiness, against sin and guilt. Nothing 
prevailed against Samson till he betrayed the vow of God 
that w r as upon him: so, nothing can prevail against the 
peace of justification, till guilt divide between the soul and 
naked reliance upon the perfection of Christ's personal 
sacrifice and mediatorship. The man that lays his founda- 
tion thus, will not boast in himself; nor wrong the visits of 
God's favorable countenance by pride and w T antonness ; nor 
yet despair when storms arise ; because his foundation is 
upon a rock, and his safety is not at all of his own handy 
work. As far as he beholds this all-sufficiency of Christ's 
mediatorship, the eye affects the heart to security and 
strength ; and crumbles all self-sufficiency to pow T der ; and 
blows away the Egyptian locusts of guilt and fears into the 
Red Sea ; and restores pacification and quiet to the con- 
science ; and from this glorious sanctuary, the soul comes 
forth to do the actions of a new life, by the virtue of another 
Spirit, "the Spirit of love, and of a sound mind;" 4 and 

1 Prov. 26:4. 2 Rom. 4: 5. 3 Prov. 26: 5. 4 2 Tim. 1: 7. 



40 A PRACTICAL DISCOURSE 

worketh the works of God in the world ; and takes pleasure 
in obeying the truth ; and, if it were possible, would actually 
keep the whole law ; in as much as, being now eternally 
knit to Christ's person by faith, the law, by the Spirit of 
Christ, is written in the heart. 

This naked reliance on Christ's person, was the great en- 
deavor, and left to us as the experience, of the apostles. 
1 Cor. ii. 2. Philip, iii. 8, 9. 

A faith of which nature also was exercised eminently by 
the holy men of old ; Abraham, Rom. iv. 20. David, Psalm 
lxxi. 16. 

There were two fundamental reasons mentioned, why the 
soul is wholly to cast itself on the naked personal merit of 
Jesus Christ ; namely, because he began our righteousness, 
and he only perfected the same for ever ; and those reasons, 
w r ell weighed, have great strength and virtue in them, to be- 
get faith ; and besides, it is commanded, as the absolute con- 
dition of salvation, "Believe, and thou shalt be saved;" 1 
in opposition to which, unbelief is made, in the dispensation 
of the gospel, the reason of dying under the guilt of sin : 2 for 
the gospel doth so perfectly hold out Jesus Christ to be the 
propitiation for all the sins of the world, through the value 
of his death, and open freeness of the tender thereof, that 
the very hinge of salvation and damnation is turned upon 
the faith of the heart therein, or unbelief thereof, as being 
the most necessary and suitable requisites, for the stating 
of the soul into an actual condition of life or death eter- 
nally. 

Yea, Christ pronounceth forgiveness of sins to the palsied 
man, 3 upon the mere account of believing. And the apostle 
Paul declares the righteousness of God to be upon all that 
believe, without making any difference upon any other re- 
spect. 4 This one thing saved the thief upon the cross, when 
he had not opportunity to make satisfaction for all the 
wrongs and robberies he had done. This makes the apostle 
Paul so laborious to preserve this mystery from the least 
mixture of legal righteousness : 5 because a believer's state 
and life is wholly " by grace," 6 which entirely treats with 
the faith of a believer, and not with his works of righteous- 
ness or sin : the one cannot help, nor the other hinder ; be- 

1 Acts 1G: 31. 1 John 3: 23. 2 John 8: 24. 3 Luke 5: 20. 

4 Kom. 3: 21, 22. & Gal. 5: 2—4. 6 1 Cor. 15: 10. 



1 1 

cause thej are as the ele] • another world ; (as they 

are railed. Gal. i\. 8.) and can neither mend nor hurl thai 
justification by Jesus Christ, revealed from heaven to a 
believer, any more than earthly food can feed a spirit, or 

kteria] sword wound an angel. And the reason is, be- 
cause the person of Christ La the ark, where righteousness 
and pardon are kept, and conveyed singly, by the Spirit of 
grace, to faith, (which is the acceptance of the same) and 
so it is secure from any persona] qualifications on man's part 
to hinder it. where it is by the Spirit of believing accepted, 
Rom. iv. 16. 

This justification of a sinner, by faith in the personal 

faction and righteousness of Jesus Christ, is that which 
lays a firm ground for assurance of perseverance ; because 
the guilt of sin is done away, and pardoned at the first be- 
lieving on Jesus Christ: and if sins be then done away, their 
guilt cannot really return ; for " the pardon of sins, and re- 
membering them no more, are joined together : " l neither 
can sins, committed after the soul's conversion to God by 
faith in Jesus Christ, hazard the final state of such a one ; 
because his person was made accepted at the first closing 
with Christ by faith ; and pardon of sins is but the conse- 
quent of the acceptance of his person. Ephes. i. 6, 7. So 
that Christ, having espoused a sinner to himself by faith, 
washes him from his filth, preserves him in that state 
through life, and presents him to himself, at length without 
spot. 2 And the person being received upon the account of 
mere grace, sin has no equal plea against such a one, because 
the strength of his plea must be by the law ; and grace having 
supplanted the accusation of the law, 3 the trial depends in 
another court, where sin is cast out: 4 and if sin could not 
hinder the acceptance of the person at first, much less can it 
procure a dis-acceptance afterwards. 5 And besides, the per- 
son of every convert is considered (in his true interest 
through grace) in the person of Jesus Christ, in w T hom all 
accusations are fully answered. 

Faith having got this foundation, encouragement, and 
rightful interest to the remission of sins, righteousness, life, 
and peace, sets itself, by spiritual exercise, to put the soul 
into sure and quiet possession thereof, in a thorough and di- 

1 Hob. 8: 12. a Eph. 5: 25—27. n John 1: 17. 4 Kom. 6: 17, 18. 
5 Rom. 5: 10. 



42 A PRACTICAL DISCOURSE 

rect levelling its eye at the object, the person of Jesus 
Christ : and to that end, it gets the soul up above the 
reasonings of the old man, (flesh and blood,) into one mount 
of gospel-reason ; and from thence, through the promises, 
and demonstration of the word of truth by the Spirit, (as 
through a perspective-glass,) gathers into its eye the lovely 
view of a complete Redeemer ; and gazeth upon him, till 
the soul is made like the chariots of Aminadab, and is both 
willingly and safely carried into a holy confidence of the 
truth of what it seeth ; and the truth of its own being com- 
prehended within the reach of the design of God's free 
mercy, in a way of particular application thereof, and crieth 
out, " My Lord, and my God." 

And oh, that my soul were upon the wings of the Spirit, 
to ascend by faith into this mount of God, my Saviour ! 
Why abide among the folds of corrupt nature, to hear the 
bleating of my own confusions and lusts, seeing the sword 
of the Lord and his Gideon is drawn for my deliverance ? 
Awake, O my heart ; awake, O my conscience ; shake thee 
from thy dust ; let the testimony of faith, and the Spirit of 
adoption and freedom lead my captivity captive for ever. 

In this glorious work, faith seizeth on the soul, as the 
angel did seize upon Lot, and (as it were) tear him out of 
Sodom, with this blessed advantage, that it makes the soul 
willing, in the day of God's power, to be pulled with vio- 
lence out of Sodom, out of all its fleshly filth, and fleshly 
state. It rejoiceth to see the blood of former lusts to be' 
sprinkled on all its raiment : it is wrathful against the en- 
chantments of self-pride, man's applause, carnal reason, 
earthly compliances, fleshly fears, and distrust : it roars 
against its sensual mind, and carnal consultations, as a lion 
over its prey. It unhingeth the gates of its captivity, and 
carrieth them up to the top of the mount, never to return 
again. Mighty is this Samson -faith, when its locks of sanc- 
tified convictions, and manifestation of grace, are grown up 
to some happy maturity ; it looks further and further after 
Christ in every scripture ; it rejoiceth exceedingly to find 
the free gift of Christ in such language as this : " I will give 
thee for a covenant of the people — that thou mayest say to 
the prisoners, Go forth : " l " Not by works of righteousness 
which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved 

1 Isa. 49: 8, 9. 



or [ON. 48 

" ] - T am he that blotteth out thy sins for my own Bake 
and will not remember them any more. 

But the poor bou] looks down upon the scars of its own 
vile heart, and daily weaknesses, and cries out: Oh! bul 

what are the wounds in my heart and hands, those thorns in 
my sides, these pricks in my eyes? 

The understanding, triumphing through faith, replies: 

These are the memorials of the wounds, with which Christ 
was wounded in the house of his friends, when he came to 
bis own, and they received him not ; and when the sword 
of indignation awoke against the Shepherd, one who account- 
ed it no robbery to be equal with God; he then saved the 
sheep, and, after a sore conflict, slew the wolf, and gathered 
again the poor of the flock, who were appointed by the law 
of Moses to the slaughter. Arise, therefore, and be not 
dismayed at the witnesses of Christ's agony, which dwell for 
a season, in thy mortal flesh. The battle was his, not thine : 
lie mortally wounded the dragon, and the God of peace will 
shortly tread down Satan, and every spawn of him, under 
thy feet These enemies are left to prove thy faith, integ- 
rity, and patience, that thou mayest learn spiritual war, and 
be renowned by victory, through the mighty spirit of the 
Captain of your salvation. 

Then faith fixeth its eyes again upon Jesus Christ, through 
the word, and beholds him as a Lamb that was slain, and 
yet risen and there sees the grave, where the guilt of con- 
science was buried, and argueth itself thus into freedom : 
u Guilt is destroyed, and none can raise the dead but God 
only : but God will not raise it up, because he destroyed it 
himself, that he might marry the justified soul to himself, 
out of that destruction of guilt and bondage, in the person 
of his own Son, that he might thereby bring forth life and 
immortality to sinners, by faith;" 8 And therefore here faith 
strives to keep its eye, while hands and feet are working ; 
and by this compass it steers its course towards the haven of 
safety. 

But the abundant grace, and vastness of this salvation, in 

and through the person of Jesus Christ, are so great, that my 

is dazzled : I am not able to measure the heavens ; I 

bring my bucket to hold the sea, and it is drowned in the 

great waters. And yet here faith has a refuge against con- 

1 Tit. 3: 5. 2 Isa. 43: 25. Jer. 31: 34. 3 2 Tim. 1: 10. Kom. 5: 6. 



44 A PRACTICAL DISCOURSE 

fusion of mind; viz. when it espies a passive sense in 
all the justification and acceptation of the gospel, and in all 
the fruits thereof, working me up to, and making me to be 
content with a conformity, according to the measure given 
me to Jesus Christ. Hence are the words discovering it 
rendered in a passive sense, justified, redeemed, and saved : 
and the action of this is ascribed only to Christ, or God in 
Christ, who justifieth, redeemeth, and saveth. And hence 
also faith giveth the soul relief against confusion of mind, 
about defect of knowledge, by the thought of this ; that 
though I know little, yet I am known perfectly of God ; x 
and though I apprehend little of the great mystery of this 
salvation, yet " I am apprehended fully by Jesus Christ ; " 2 
while I receive him by faith, and am willing to be compre- 
hended, and moulded by his Spirit. It was but a small 
thing, on man's part, to touch the hem of Christ's garment ; 
yet that being an act of reliance on Christ, and subjecting 
the soul to him, presently there came in health of body, and 
pardon of sins, from that comprehending relation in which 
Christ stood to such a soul. 3 The soul's work in faith, or 
rather, that to which the soul is wrought, is a contentedness 
to receive the person of Christ by faith, as the sum and 
title of its interest in more than it can be ever able to recieve 
within its own capacity. 

The soul that receives the person of Christ, by one true 
closing hint, through faith, receives a rightful claim to and 
property in every excellency and perfection that is in God, 
laid up in Christ for that end, though the length of that per- 
fection and blessing be never fully known. As a man, who 
buys a field, (if no exception in the laws of that nation be 
made) buys all the advantages of that piece of earth, down- 
ward to the very centre of the earth, and all between that 
and the stars, although he really minds no more (it may be,) 
than the grassy surface of his land, till he discovers some 
other excellency : then he minds that also, and owns it ; 
whether it be mines of gold or silver, or whatever is in the 
nature of the earth, which was not known when he bought 
it ; because he bought a right to it, without restriction to 
any particular quality in it : so is it with a soul, that by faith 
lays hold on and receives Christ's person ; it may be, his 
eye is chiefly on freedom from the guilt of sin ; but in taking 

1 Gal. 4: 9. a Phil. 3: 12. a Luke 8: 43—43. 



OF SALTATION. 1 5 

the person of Christ, be receives not only pardon, but a true 
righl to whatsoever is in Christ, relating to this life, and that 
which is to come. The heaven of heavens is not able to 
contain the inmost of thai inheritance which belongs to a 
believer, because it cannot contain God. This, faith dis- 
covers, and cides out, " My lines arc fallen in a fruitful place, 
I have a goodly heritage." 

The Influence of Faith into Neiv Obedience. 

Faith, being thus mounted, has many advantages ; for it 
is skilful, and therefore victorious. It has the advantage of 
discovery, for offence or defence : it has champaign ground, 
and a (dear air to breathe in ; and so is every way furnished 
for victory and success. 

And as faith is thus fitted, by means of its station and ca- 
pacity, for discovery ; so it lies under the bond of obedience, 
engaged and commanded to accept and drink in the happi- 
ness that lies in Christ. Faith is eminently both a privilege 
and duty : a privilege, in that it enters on the possession ot 
the whole covenant of grace, and eternal life here upon the 
earth ; and it is bound thereto in point of duty. 

In this new world, as it were, of salvation by Jesus Christ, 
the manifestation of free grace, in the doctrine of Christ's 
birth, life, death, resurrection, and ascension, etc., doth make 
the treaty between the spotless purity and sufficiency of 
Christ's most holy nature, and the natural guilt and lump of 
wretchedness that has overspread the nature and life of sinful 
man : which manifestation of Christ presents itself, in a way 
of cure, to denied man ; and doth in a primitive way, namely, 
in the very nature of it, require defiled man to be healed. 
There is virtually, in the very manifestation of the gospel, a 
command gone forth to lost man to return, and accept the 
salvation that is thus provided and held forth : besides which, 
there comes in the next place, a positive command to believe, 3 
with many invitations, persuasions and directions about it. 
The not receiving the former is blindness, the not receiving 
the latter is more eminently wilful blindness ; and both of 
them wretched impotency, because the letter of the gospel 
itself cannot quicken. The Spirit of this gospel doth there- 
fore go farther, in behalf of the elect, who were peculiarly 
given to Chrisl : and presents itself as a quickening power 

1 1 John 3: 23. 

4* 



46 A PRACTICAL DISCOURSE 

in all the parts of it, and as the real, necessary, and most 
effectual remedy against all manner of guilt : which also is, 
in the next place, followed with a law, in the hand of the 
Spirit, to receive it by faith : this is the quickening virtue, 
in all invitations and persuasions to receive and apply that 
glorious remedy. And this is that twofold law which every 
convert lies under ; namely, the manifestation itself, and a 
spiritual requiring word, commanding the conscience to re- 
ceive it, and live thereby, through an actually exercised faith. 
For, as God pursued man's apostasy and disobedience, through 
Adam, to death and destruction ; so he pursueth man's reme- 
dy, through the death and sufficiency of the second Adam to 
justification of life and salvation. In the former, God said, 
Man must die ; in the latter he saith, Man must and shall 
live ; he himself is the commander, and the life and strength 
of his own commands ; in that the " Second Adam is not 
only a living soul, as the first was, but a quickening 
Spirit." i 

This command from God in the gospel, to believe, re- 
ceive, and enjoy pardon and righteousness in Jesus Christ, 2 
even that righteousness and salvation which is laid up in the 
person of the Mediator, for every one who comes for it, 3 
and would enjoy the same ; 4 this command, I say, necessa- 
rily requires obedience thereto. 5 This obedience is exer- 
cised in a pure and free receiving Jesus Christ as my only 
Redeemer ; as being bought by him, and being made his. I 
am not my own, I must not measure myself by myself, but 
by what he is for me, and to me. When the temptations of 
fear, through my personal guilt, do command me to despair, 
I must not obey them, but must obey the law of Christ, the 
"law of faith," as it is called, Rom. iii. 27. When pride of 
heart, or self-ability, doth command me to boast, I must not 
obey it, 6 but must reply, " I am not under the law of my own 
sin, nor of my own righteousness ; 7 but I am under the law 
of my own Lord ; which is to receive him, and own his 
righteousness as my own ; for he is " the Lord my righteous- 
ness." 8 " When I believe, then I obey ; ' for I am com- 
manded to believe in the name of the only begotten Son of 
God ; when I cast myself on him that fulfilled the whole 

1 1 Cor. 15:45. 2 Acts 13:38, 39. 16:31. 1 John 3:23. 

3 Ileb. 7. 25. 4 Rev. 22: 17. 5 Rom. 1G: 26. 6 1 Cor. 1: 29. 
7 Horn. 6: 14. Tit. 3: 5. 8 Jcr. 23: 6. 



OF SALVATION. 

Law, then 1 fulfil the whole law; when I cast myself on 
his righteousness, I am, in God's sight, as white as snow; 
my sins, in this new state, arc rather accounted my diseases, 
than my faults: for if I am nol my own, my sins are not my 
own ; but accounted his, "who loved me, and washed me in 
his blood." 

This obedience of faith has the sight of Christ's fulness, 
and the promises of the new covenant, to lean upon ; and 
so it takes its journey, from flesh to Spirit, from weakness 
to Btrength, in the name of the Lord. And from this obe- 
dience in believing, proceeds all manner of holiness, as the 
fruits thereof, which receive their sap from this root : this 
root makes them to be living obedience, as branches from 
the same root, children of the same parent. The first sub- 
jection is, to the righteousness of Christ's person ; to submit 
all fear and guilt to the fulness of pardon and life that is in 
him, as the store-house, and there to enjoy it in the enjoying 
of him : and then, by the Spirit of life which is in Christ, 
the soul with freedom acts forth answerably, in some mea- 
sure, to such a renewed state ; from whence all actions of 
holiness are called the " fruits of faith, and fruits of right- 



One of Faith's Dark Days, and yet Delivered. 

After my return from , I found sore breaches made 

upon my soul. My inward man had suffered loss, while I 
travelled up and down ; my soul was violently shaken ; the 
bands of the wicked one conspired with my wicked heart, 
and carried away my treacherous soul; so that my glory was 
captivated into the enemy's hand. A wind from the wilder- 
- laid me in confusion ; the tempest prevailed, and I suf- 
fered shipwreck ; all my own feeble endeavors and former 
meditations gave way, and the raging sea of filthy and fool- 
ish thoughts did beat sore upon me ;• my ship (of former 
resolutions of heart, and my poor discovery of the salvation 
of God), was bilged and ready to sink; yet my heart 
yearned after the Lord, my rock. I cried secretly, though 
confusedly, to my God, and he yet reserved a "plank for my 
almost drowned soul to swim upon to the shore. He has 
not utterly removed his mercy from me ; he has been yet 
preaching his own free grace to my soul, through a voice of 

1 Phil. 1:11. 2 Cor. 9, 10. Col. 1: 6. 2 Pet. I: 4— 8. 



48 A PRACTICAL DISCOURSE 

thunder and lightning. Let me jet hear thy voice, O Thou 
Preserver of men ; let me yet gather up advantage through 
my loss ; help me yet to receive recovering and establishing 
virtue from my strong-hold. While my thoughts were thus 
working, I endeavored to get once more into the sanctuary of 
God ; and there I found, that although I carry about a hell 
within me, yet that hell cannot devour the infinite covenant 
of peace which God made. My unbelief and disobedience 
cannot make the faith of God to be of no effect. 1 

I would have lived upon grace and strength received, and 
I trembled to see those selfish confidences shaken to the 
earth ; but now (methinks) Christ calls me again from my 
father's house, and promiseth me a better name than that of 
sons and daughters of my own, a name in himself, an off- 
spring in himself, 2 which shall not be cut off. I have had a 
sentence of death in myself, that I might not trust any more 
in myself, but in God who raiseth the dead ; 3 I am a dry 
tree ; 4 but he who was raised from the dead, is a green tree, 
and in him is my fruit found. 5 

Oh, the mystery and power of this salvation wherewith I 
am saved ! Oh, that I might pass (as it were) through the 
eye of a needle, into Christ's power, and there rest from the 
days of adversity. And the rest is glorious, because it is 
uncompounded, it receives no ingredients from abroad ; it is 
singly made up of Christ, and is in him alone. Venture, O 
my soul, upon this naked arm ; for it is an arm of faithful- 
ness and mercy. This strength alone is a fountain of 
strength ; this is the river whose streams make glad the city 
of God. Art thou not willing to be undone, O my soul, that 
thou mayest be saved ? How long wilt thou set up thy post 
by the pillars of that salvation which is wrought in God for 
thee, and wrought in thee by single union with God in Jesus 
Christ ? Is not his arm stronger than thine ? Be thou 
translated by faith into divine strength. Let not thy wine 
be mixed with water. Thy confidences are rejected : make 
a voyage to the everlasting hills ; enter into the mount of 
God. Thou hast broken both the tables of the covenant, 
and yet the Prince of the same covenant lives. Wait for 
the Spirit to draw it over again and again, by the indelible 
character of his own finger, who lives to enliven thee 
forever. 

1 Rom. 3: 3. 2 Psalm 45: 1G. Isa. 56: 5. 3 2 Cor. 1: 9. 

4 Isa. 56: 3. 5 Hosca 14: 8. 



How hard is it to deparl from Belf ! from righteous self, 
and sinful self! I am wounded by sinful self, thai I might 
flee from righteous Belf and sinful self also, and cast anchor 
only within the vail, Heb. vi. 19. 

1 am weary of the instability of the streams; oh, lei me 
go to the fountain. When I am saying, I shall die in my 
nest, my nesl is soon fired about my < ars, and turned to 
ashes. Certainly there is a better resl than this; and it 
lieth in trusting Christ, and trusting in him only. I both 
trust Christ, and trust in Christ, when I believe that lie is 
the standard of all savins righteousness communicable to 
man ; and all my righteousness and holiness is but the re- 
flection of his. I trust in Christ, when I lie resignedly at 
his feet, to be made holy. And whatsoever composure of 
heart I do at any time receive, I do not, and cannot hold it ; 
but it is held by him while it remains : and when it with- 
draws, it lives in the root for me. I am ready to think, if I 
had all graces in my own disposal, I would manage them to 
the glory of God ; but how can God be glorified more, than 
in a holy content to live at his allowance ? All his design is 
to allure me, and so to force me out of myself, to live in him, 
as well as to live by him-. He bestows his grace within- 
doors. I must not take his grace to myself, to put it to 
usury for increase ; but must fetch the increase, as well as 
the principal, from him, by union with him through Jesus 
Christ : and my work is to rest on his faithfulness, wdsdom, 
willingness, and readiness to supply me ; as if every grace 
of the Spirit were fully in my own management and power, 
to exercise the same. This is the true life of faith ; this is 
the way of walking up and down in the name of the Lord. 1 
When I actually acknowledge every measure of spiritual 
strength to hold its treasure from Jesus Christ singly and 
wholly, and rest confidently upon him for it ; and that be- 
cause he hath promised both grace and glory, and every 
good thing ; 2 judging him faithful who hath promised, and 
owning him thereupon for my inheritance, and myself no- 
thing but what he for me : then I may be said to trust 
Jesus Christ, and to trust in him only. I trust him upon his 
word to be all for me which I would spiritually be ; and I 
trust in him to enjoy the same, through the faith of my in- 
terest in him, and his abounding grace and unction. 

i Zcch. 10: 12. 2 Psalm 84: 11. 



50 A PRACTICAL DISCOURSE 

This cuts the heart of self-pride, spiritual surfeiting, and 
slothfulness, when I live every moment at the mercy of 
another, even Jesus Christ, both for justifying righteous- 
ness, and every influence thereof, by the immediate breath- 
ings of his Spirit, according to his good pleasure ; having 
not the power, so much as to make one hair white or black : 
but I must wholly work by his hands, see by his eyes, and 
in his light behold the light. What more powerful induce- 
ment can there be to self-denial than this? Boasting is 
excluded, because Christ, in his own person, and by his own 
Spirit, doth whatsoever is done for me, or in me. Here lies 
the mystery and labor of faith, which the mere notion thereof 
can never reach unto, so as to improve the same to a self- 
denying activity for God, in the paths of godliness and travel 
towards Zion. 



Christ Spiritually, not Personally, communicated to Be- 
lievers. 

There is in our dear Lord Jesus a two-fold excellency to 
his redeemed, as he is their portion; his essential power, 
righteousness, goodness, and perfection in the godhead ; and 
his proper human nature personally united thereunto ; x but 
neither of these (considered as such) can be commuicated 
unto the children of men : his person cannot be imparted or 
divided. And there is another excellency flowing from the 
former, by way of influence and inward virtue, communica- - 
ted to the hearts of the redeemed by regeneration, which 
formeth, reneweth, and quickeneth the new man, the new 
creature in the soul. 

The first of these though it cannot (in a strict sense) be 
communicated, yet it is wholly, by covenant, given to the 
saints. 2 So that God, in his vast essential infiniteness, is 
their God ; and his very body that was dead, and is now 
alive, was also given to the elect ; 3 and is become theirs by 
covenant ; and they enjoy it in that right, though it remains 
personally his own, and not theirs, but for them to all eter- 
nity ; the excellency of which God-man, in the perfection of 
both natures, is so far reckoned and imputed to them, by 
covenant-union and mystical ingrafture, as may perfectly de- 
liver them from all evil, and lill them with all righteousness, 

1 Col. 2: 9. 2 Isa. 49: 8. 3 Isa. 9: 6. 



01 SALVATION. 

purity, ami perfection, which creature-capacity can take in 
lor t hi' enjoying of the glory of God. So thai the person 
of the Mediator remains distinct from the persons of the re- 
deemed, and they arc not mixed, but united, through the 
Spirit, in the covenant, and in his personal assumption of the 
human nature, by faith exercised therein. 

The Advantages of Okrisfs being without us Personally, and 
yet Spiritually in us who believe. 

Hence it is, that the interest which the saints have in 
Christ is enjoyable by them singly, through believing; 1 
which enjoyment, through the spiritual nature of the union, 
is as real, strong, and sure, as whatsoever they enjoy in 
their own persons, by sense and feeling. 2 

And thus Christ, as to the perfection of his person, being 
without us, and above us ; and jet, by the communication of 
the Spirit, through faith, made near to us, and dwelling in 
us, yields much privilege, and unspeakable advantage, to a 
believer, namely : — 

1. The excellency of a believer's portion in Christ is 
hereby most distinctly viewed. The soul has hereby room 
to go round about the unspotted lustre of his person, and 
view him from head to foot (as the church in the Canticles 
doth. Cant. v. 10 — 16.) discerning him as the choicest of 
ten thousands ; whereas the glory of the same Christ, so far 
as it appears only in the heart by operation, is much dimmed 
and sullied with the defilement that is there, and continual 
conflicts ; but considering him separated far away Iron sin 
and sinners," furnished with the utmost perfection, and 
clothed with garments of complete victory and beauty in 
the behalf of his redeemed, this fills their heart with joy, 
and their mouth with singing. 

2. lie is thereby become also the livelier object of their 
love ; for the eye affects the heart, and nourishes spiritual 
inflamedness towards him. This desire quickens expecta- 
tion to rejoice in hope, and leaves no room for a loathing, 
wearisome fulness in the heart. 

3. This objective enjoyment of Christ gives foundation 
for a kindly refuge in him. It rationally leads the inward 
man to depart from all other sells, and run to this objective 

1 Eph. 3. 17. 2 Rom. 4: 16. Eph. 3: 17. 8 Heb. 7: 26. 



52 A PEACTICAL DISCOURSE 

self, Jesus Christ, through the drawing virtue of spiritual 
union with him : * and thus was Christ typified by the 
cities of refuge. 

4. This enjoyment of Christ, by way of object, is also a 
fountain of recovery when the soul is foiled. It can fetch 
fresh righteousness, fresh pardon, and be anointed, again, and 
again, with fresh oil, as David speaks, 2 yea, every moment, 
as oft as the heart pants after him. 

5. It is also a fountain of ease, by the ability it gives of 
pouring out a complaint into his bosom. It is a great re- 
freshment to have a friend, to whom one may declare one's 
misery, were it only to receive pity from his hands ; 3 but in 
Christ, looked upon by faith, there is a power as well as pity 
to help, be the affliction and burden what it may, and how 
great soever. 4 

6. It is a fountain also of confidence ; and hence doth 
the prophet Micah, in the name of the people of God, argue 
against the triumph of the enemy. " I will look unto the 
Lord, I will wait for the God of my salvation ; my God will 
hear me. Rejoice not therefore against me, O mine enemy ; 
when I fall I shall arise," 5 etc. And Christ himself doth 
teach his people confidence by his own example in the day 
of his suffering, in that his Father was near to justify him. 6 

7. Christ, thus taken up, helps against the solitariness of 
our journey towards heaven. A believer has a friend to 
talk with by the way, who is a guide also ; and therefore 
great is the loss of that man who walks alone, and compass- 
eth himself about with his own sparks ; if he fall (as Solo- 
mon speaks) " he hath not another to help him up." 7 Thus 
Christ is held forth as a comfortable leader and companion ; 8 
and the church improves this privilege, by " leaning on her 
beloved," as she comes forth out of the wilderness. 9 This 
blessed companion makes way for his people's safety, in the 
fire, and in the water of affliction." 10 

8. By this means also faith has got a true and faithful 
witness on the believer's side, to clear off accusations : and 
from hence are those expressions used in the Psalms, 
" Plead my cause, Be surety for me," etc. And the fre- 
quent appeals made to God, who "trieth.the heart and 

1 Cant. 1:4. 2 Psalm 92: 10. 3 Job 6: 14. 

4 Ileb. 4: 15, 16. 2: 18. 7: 25. 5 Micah 7: 7—9, 19. 

G Compare Isa. 50: 8, 9, with Eom. 8: 33, 34. 7 Eccl. 4: 10. 

H Isa. 57: 18. Jer. 3: 14. 9 Cant. 8: 5. 10 Dan. 3: 25. Isa. 43: 2. 



OK SALVATION. 58 

reins, and who standeth up <>n the ride of hie people, and on 
their behalf" 

These and infinitely more privileges do arise to every be- 
liever, from the interest that he hath in Christ's entire; and 
incommunicable person, by the union of free covenant and 
mystical Lngrafture, and the communion of virtue derived 
from the person of this Mediator; in -which mystery of 
grace he enjoys Christ as the hand enjoys the head, yet 
both of them are distinctly considered in the body : or as the 
eye enjoys the influence and virtue of that light and heat 
which is in the very body of the sun, although the body of 
the sun be many thousand miles distant from that eye which 
doth actually enjoy that sun in the light and heat of its influ- 
ence : and it doth as truly enjoy it, as if it lay in the mate- 
rial body of the sun, and in a way of greater advantage, 
lined for its capacity and use. So is the person of Christ 
enjoyed really and truly with all privileges relating to be- 
lievers, while he retains his personality uncommunicated 
and undivided to any other ; as the very water of the foun- 
tain is enjoyed in the stream, and the sap of the root is en- 
joyed in the branches ; and yet the stream is not the foun- 
tain, nor yet the branches any part of the root.:) 

Christ's Entrance upon the Heart works Renewing there. 

The way of the soul's enjoyment of Christ in all the pri- 
vileges of his person, and offices of his mediatorship, and in 
all the influences of spiritual unction, and transformation of 
the heart into the power and likeness of Jesus Christ, is 
wrought by the Spirit of regeneration, through faith ; which 
causeth the soul to pass over from itself, from all its strength, 
from all its own carnal' hope, fear, and selfish care, into the 
death, life, righteousness, and perfection of the person of Je- 
sus Christ : and so is enabled to say in truth, " I am not 
mine own ; I live ; yet no longer I, but Christ liveth in me ; 
and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the 
faith of the Son of God," namely, by the very life, and in 
the very life of Christ, apprehended, received, enjoyed, and 
working effectually in me by faith in him " who loved me, 
and washed me from my sins in his own blood." 1 

This is that translating, renewing, changing, and quicken- 
ing work, which the scripture doth so often mention as the 

1 1 Cor. 6: 19. Gal. 2: 20. Rev. 1: 5. 
5 



54 A PRACTICAL DISCOURSE 

design of the gospel. And it is with reference unto this, 
that Christ is called a stone of stumbling, and rock of offence. 
Sinful and selfish nature strives to preserve its life against 
the killing virtue of the Spirit of Christ in the gospel 
preached to the world. This is the reason of so much carnal 
profession and barrenness in Christianity, when the hearts 
of men turn the nature of the gospel, which is a law of 
grace, and obeyed only by faith, into the similitude of the 
law of Moses, and make it a matter of man's working, and 
subject it to the poor and lame endeavors of unrenewed 
man ; not remembering, or not understanding, that the tree 
must first be made good, before the fruit can be good. This 
was meant by the apostle when he bewailed the Jews ; who, 
though they " followed after righteousness, attained it not, 
because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the 
works of the law." l Ever since the fall of man, righteous- 
ness forsook the created nature of man ; (which is largely 
showed, Rom. iii. 10.) and is only now in Christ revealed 
from heaven, in receiving of whom, by being baptized spir- 
itually into his death and life, his righteousness is enjoyed. 

Every command of the gospel doth first require faith, 
which is the great commandment ; and, in the virtue and 
power thereof, requires and works holiness in all the fruits 
of a new life, by the virtue of Jesus Christ, working in 
every precept and command of God in the whole scriptures, 
being gospelized by his Spirit. 

And here my heart begins again to groan, while I find so - 
little of this killing, renewing power accomplishing its work 
upon me. How far am I from this renewed state ! I am 
weary of the lifeless notion of the thing. I faint in my 
sighing, and find no rest. I long for the breath of the Lord, 
and thus lament out my complaint before him : " When will 
the Lord come into his temple ? My flesh trembleth betwixt 
hope, fear, and desire : I am as a bottle dried in the smoke : 
my heart is pained and in travail. O, Preserver of men, 
make no tarrying, lest I be like them who go down to the 
pit. O, let death feed upon me, till the foundation of life, 
power, and peace, be laid in my soul, and deliverance come 
from another place. Droopings are deadly, O, my soul. Do 
not say, thy wound is incurable ; the Creator of the ends of 
the earth doth undertake for thee; he will yet reveal abund- 

1 Rom. 9: 31, 32. 



OF SALVATION. 55 

ance of truth and peace. Come, then, O Fountain of help, 

and do thine own will upon me." 

How easy is it to Bay the word, renewing, in comparison 
of having the thing really executed and done ! 

All thai can be spoken about it is but words; the change 
itself is the thing I long for. Mine eyes fail with hoping 

for the salvation of God in this work. that the heavens 
might drop down their dew ! Why are the influences of the 
clouds withheld ? O, for the sounding of his bowels who is 
none into a far country, and has promised to return! My 
musing heart cannot fetch him, but my groaning is before 
him, and the tears and cries of my soul are in his sight. 
Let the cry of my distress be heard: anguish is upon my 
heart, and let the season of my redemption come ! 

According to the measure of the power of Christ given 
to me, I would yet struggle against this giant, unmortified 
self. I would rather take a sling and a stone in the power 
of Christ, than all the weapons of a carnal arm and under- 
standing. 

Christ w^ell knew the length of that petition, Thy will be 
done, when he taught his disciples that prayer. Could I 
but pray this prayer in the latitude of it, I should think my 
foot within the threshold of heaven. 



The Blessedness of a mortified Understanding and Mortified 

Will 

The main gospel-killing work lies in mortifying the under- 
standing and the will, into the wisdom and dominion of the 
Spirit ; and, as my present controversy is with my own car- 
nal will, I w r ould deal w r ith that first, were not my unmorti- 
fied understanding in the way. 

My unmortified understanding can easily dally with all 
the notions about the Trinity, law and gospel promises and 
covenant, faith, and every grace of the Spirit, and every 
duty of godliness, and yet but trifle all the while. The re- 
newed understanding sucks in the lively evidence of the 
mind of God in all those things, and is called the demon- 
stration of Spirit and power, 1 and the very mind of Christ. 2 
This mind of Jesus Christ represents to faith the infinite 
God wrapped up in every particle of his word, and is the 

1 1 Cor. 2: 4. 2 1 Cor. 2: 16. 



56 A PRACTICAL DISCOURSE 

spirit of every revealed truth. Hence comes that expres- 
sion, " you have not so learned Christ." - 1 A renewed 
understanding is not taught by words and sentences, be they 
what they will, and though ever so good ; but by the mind 
of God and Christ in them. 2 The whole volume of the 
scriptures is but a small hint, as it were, of the immeasur- 
able will of God. And this is the reason why the scriptures, 
though the words are the same, and not altered, do yet, by 
the Spirit, speak variety of instructions in the unity of the 
same truth, as the Spirit pleaseth to reveal itself therein ; 
which doth not at all argue defect in the Scriptures, but 
infiniteness in the mind of Christ therein contained. 

This fulness of the mind of Christ in the word is that 
which makes it divide between the soul and the spirit, the 
joints and the marrow ; and to be a discerner of the thoughts 
and intents of the heart. 3 

A renewed understanding makes use of the word, and all 
the expressions therein, but as the door by which to enter 
into the whole vision of God in Jesus Christ, and the reve- 
lation of his will ; and so takes up the truth truly, in the 
method in which the infinite God is pleased to reveal it. 

A renewed understanding sees the mystery of truth to be 
substance and life, through that report of it which words 
do speak. It converseth with life through the conduit of 
words, phrases, and terms : it gives way to the truth as it is 
in Jesus, by believing, and not mangling it with carnal rea- 
son ; and so makes way for the renewed will to give obedi- 
ence by believing, doing, and suffering the pleasure and will 
of God. 

The renewed will is one with God's will in a way of sub- 
mission thereto. It lies down broken-heartedly in the plea- 
sure of God : it is zealous in obedience, secure in believing, 
quiet in suffering, because the will of God reigneth, and can- 
not be disappointed : it makes the soul in every thing give 
thanks, and rejoice evermore : it grieves where the holy 
Spirit is grieved, and it delights where God delights. If 
God say to Abraham, Offer up Isaac, he doth it with joy ; 
reluctancy is gone, because the will of God dwells in the 
renewed will, and the consultations of flesh and blood 
are mortified. It grieves for sin, because it crosseth the re- 
vealed will of God : and yet rejoiceth in hope, because 

1 Eph. 4:20. 2 Eph. 4: 21. 3 Heb. 4: 12. 



OF SALVATION. 07 

nil things shall work together for good to them that love 
him. 

The renewed will is always renewing itself by faith in 
Christ, and looking into the law of liberty. It thanks God 
heartily tor lite, death, health, sickness, success or disappoint- 
ment, in high degree or low degree ; because it is baptized 
into his wilL And that the nature of this new creation in 
the will may provoke my heart to withdraw from the servi- 
tude of my corrupt will, I would ponder the nature of it a 
little further. 

The first parent of the grace of adoption by Jesus Christ 
was the good pleasure of the will of God in his decree; 1 
and actual conversion by the word is the operation also of 
the will of God, 2 which bringeth forth a birth in the new 
man of the same likeness ; Thy people shall be willing in 
the day of thy power, Psalm ex. 3. And by this willing- 
ness the truth of all obedience is measured. 3 It is also the 
first thing the spirit of God hath in his eye, and which doth, 
in a way of acceptance, fill up the defect of all other 
service. 4 

The state of death in sin is captivity to the will of Satan 
and the flesh ; and subjection to the will of God is the first- 
born from the dead. It first appears and so goes on, as 
the living token of true Christianity, and never ceaseth till 
it is filled with the fulness of God who brought it forth ; and 
so it is the undoing principle to flesh and blood, and capti- 
vates fear, care and bondage into the liberty of Jesus Christ, 
the eternal son of God ; and makes Christ and a believer 
no longer twain, but one in the union and operation of the 
Spirit ; whereby the dominion and sure protection of God 
secure the soul as the waters cover the sea. Here I stick, 
and here I groan : Alas, alas, for this day of the Lord ! Oh, 
for this day-spring from on high, to reveal this light and 
breath, in the life of this renewed understanding and will, 
from the bowels of his own grace and Spirit ! I am sick ; 
yea, I am sick ; my pen shakes, my heart quivers with de- 
sire after this renewing work. Give way, O carnal mind of 
unbelief, darkness, sin and vanity, that my heart may faint 
away into the bosom of this changing power of the Spirit 
of Christ who has redeemed it. 

1 Eph. 1: 5. 2 James 1: 18. s Isa. 1: 19. 4 2 Cor. 8: 12. 

5* 



58 A PRACTICAL DISCOURSE 



TJie Use of the Scriptures. 

The glorious work of renewing the mind is carried on by 
the eternal Word of God, by which he made the world. 
All creating work is effected through the eternal Word, the 
Son of God, by the eternal Spirit, from the everlasting 
Father ; in which God is all in all. The eternal Word hath 
declared himself by a word of faith, reconciliation, and com- 
fort, contained and expressed in a way suitable to the capa- 
city of human sense, reason and understanding, in the scrip- 
tures, that so the incomprehensible will of God might look 
into the heart of man, through the inlets of natural sense, 
and the faculties of natural mind, making them subservient 
in this renewing change. 

Therefore it is made visible to the eye, and receivable by 
the ear, retainable by the memory, and meditable by the 
heart, in the use of the scriptures ; and so doth, in a ra- 
tional way, by reproofs, instructions, convincements, and 
comforts, bring forth the new creature, and hold it in a 
spiritual union and fellowship with the Father, Son, and 
Spirit, through a daily increase, tending to the last and per- 
fect fulness. 1 

And that Jesus Christ may make this his expressed word 
effectual to accomplish the design of his love to the souls of 
his redeemed, he guides them by his Spirit to the most ad- 
vantageous improvement thereof, that not one jot or tittle of . 
his word may be lost. 

The whole scriptures are the inspiration of the " Spirit of 
God the Father, and of his Son Jesus Christ," 2 given to re- 
veal the way of salvation ; which is carried on by a way of 
history and doctrine ; in both which the state of mankind is 
discovered, in reference to its innocency, fall, and recovery. 
The state of innocency and the fall comprehended all man- 
kind in the persons of Adam and Eve ; the state of recovery 
respects only a part of mankind saved out of that universal 
loss, by Christ, according to the election of grace, and there- 
fore he is called the " second Adam," 3 who infuseth the gift 
and operation of righteousness to his seed, as the "first 
Adam" had infused the guilt and enthralling, corrupting 
power of sin into his seed. As the fall was a perfect fall, so 

1 Col. 2: 19. Eph. 1: 23. 2 Heb. 1:1. Col. 3: 16. 2 Tim. 3: 16. 
8 Rom. 5: 14. 1 Cor. 15:45. 



0» SALVATION. 69 

the recovery (to the remnant recovered) is a perfect re- 
covery, completed fully in (\inY> <lcciv<> before the world 
was, 1 and actually solemnized al Christ's suffering; 3 which 
becomes applicable to every individual person of thai num- 
ber by the Spirit of faith and holiness; and whereby they 
are fully and really freed from the matter of guill through 
union with Christ : albeit the afflicting sense and fear of 
guilt appears many times, through the weakness of faith in 
that union : and, through the encumbering defilement of sin 
in those who are redeemed, holds on a conflict in the flesh, 
till the last enemy, namely, death, be destroyed: and so man- 
kind stands divided; the persons of them who only bear the 
image of the first Adam (corrupted by the serpent's poison), 
and they who bear the image of the second Adam ; and, in 
the latter division, every redeemed person carries also a sub- 
division in his own heart for a time, namely, the grand prin- 
ciple of his renewed state, and the afflicting stain and enmity 
of the first Adam's nature remaining in the flesh. And in 
reference to these two contraries, (namely, the good and bad 
persons of mankind, and the different principles of good and 
evil), the scripture doth display all the threatenings and 
comforts, reproofs and encouragements, judgments and pro- 
mises, instructions and rebukes, that are found in that blessed 
volume, with manifestations of God's power and goodness to 
the one, and of his power and wrath against the other. 

So whatsoever is spoken of any one person, is spoken 
of all persons, in the same state ; and whatsoever is spoken 
of any action or qualification in any person, is spoken of like 
actions and qualifications in every person, who is in the same 
state, to the end of the world ; even as long as mankind re- 
mains. And as far as the line of each state (whether it be 
good or bad) reacheth ; so far doth every person, continuing 
in that state, bear his proportionable share through the grave 
to eternity. 

When the Spirit of God speaketh anything in the word, 
it first looks through the state in which any person is, and so 
deals with that particular person according to the state in 
which he is, whether it be a state of sin or grace, and so acts 
towards him according to the rules and method of such a 
state. Hence it is, that comforts, or afflictions, or teachings, 
that are one and the same in their own nature, are exceed- 

1 Bph. 1:4. 2 Col. 2: 14, 15. 



60 A PRACTICAL DISCOURSE 

ingly different in the end and use which the Spirit makes of 
them, through the different states of light or darkness, life 
or death in which all men lie ; so that by this means the 
same word is a savor of life to one which is a savor of 
death to another. 

The general threatenings against ungodliness concern 
every particular ungodly man. The particular punishment 
inflicted upon any one ungodly man, shows what is equally 
due to the rest of ungodly men. And although one evil man 
may not commit the same wicked action as another doth, yet 
he has the nature, and the same evil state, which is the root 
of that action ; and as it brings forth actions equivalently 
evil, it is by the Spirit of God equally sentenced to punish- 
ment. 

And as, in all visible actions, the state of the person is (in 
the scriptures) first considered ; so, in all actions, the nature 
and spirit of that action (as it holds relation to the state of 
the person acting), is regarded by the Spirit of God in the 
word, before the action itself, and involves every one within 
the guilt of that action, if it be wicked, or w r ithin the blessing 
of that action, if it be good, in whom the nature and spirit 
of such an action worketh. From this ground Christ calls 
wicked anger, murder ; and unchaste lustings, adultery : 1 
and from this ground a gracious desire and intention has the 
blessing of a gracious action. 2 And when the action is one 
and the same, and yet the spirit and inward mind of them 
who execute that action different, the action is not accounted 
the same, but different ; as in the case of Cain's killing 
Abel, and Phinehas's killing Zimri ; it was murder in the 
one, and righteousness in the other. So that actions may 
agree, and yet the spirit of that action in the actors, not 
agree : and the spirit of one action may agree with the 
spirit of another action, or the spirit of one that acts may 
agree in some particular action with the spirit of another who 
acts the same thing, and yet the difference of their grand 
state disagree ; as appears in the case of David's unclean- 
ness through lust, and the sin of his son Amnon ; for the re- 
pentance and recovery of the one are recorded, but not of 
the other. 

So that in the use of the scriptures, we are to consider 
how far actions agree, and how far the spirit, or immediate 

1 Matt. 5: 2\, 22, 27, 28. 2 2 Cor. 8: 12. 



OF SALVATION". 6] 

inward working, which produced actions, agrees, and how 
the grand state of persons dotb agree, that we may know 
how to make use of the reproofs and punishments, promises 
and rewards, thai we find given to others in scripture. 

As concerning the state of godliness, there is no one godly 
man who has any peculiar privilege, which is not common to 
all who arc in the same state, because the covenant is madeto 
them all alike in Jesus Christ ; in whom God is become 
their God, upon the equal terms of free grace; and Christ 
is as well the head of one member, as of another ; and all 
the privileges which can flow from such a common relation 
rim down of right to every person within that relation ; 
namely, justification, adoption, reconciliation, sanctification, 
preservation, instruction, and such like operations of the 
Spirit, that issue from that relation, and which tend to a liv- 
ing enjoyment thereof, and the advancing of that state to 
perfection. All commands, also, and duties bear with them 
an equal engagement to every person, alike related, within 
the state of covenant interest; because those commands and 
duties relate to the same interest, in which all the people of 
God are one. 1 

So that this interest in God, which is helpful in one case, 
is applicable to all like cases, wherein the saints, who enjoy 
that interest, are concerned : which makes every promise to 
have a kind of infiniteness, as God is infinite. From this 
ground, the same promise that armed Joshua against fear, 
through the presence and faithfulness of God, u I will never 
leave thee, nor forsake thee," 2 is used likewise to every saint, 
to arm him against covetousness, and fear of want. 3 

And thus the experience of one saint becomes advanta- 
geous to another, through their mutual interest in the same 
root of spiritual life in Christ, by which they are one with 
him, and co-partners, each with other, of the same grace. 
From this ground there is no member of Christ that can say, 
he hath not need of another's help ; because the Spirit of 
God, by which they are united into one body, conveys its 
operation through one to another, as it pleaseth him ; 4 which 
Spirit of God is the new life of the weak, as well as of the 
strong, as he pleaseth to manifest his power and virtue in the 
one or the other, more or less, by which they are strong or 

1 John 17: 20. Matt. 28: 20. 2 Josh. 1: 5. 8 Heb. 13: 5. 

* 1 Cor. 12: 11. 



62 A PRACTICAL DISCOURSE 

weak ; that so, they might love, pity and sympathize each 
with other, being all interested in the same life, and whereby 
they are all one body, and members one of another. 1 

Hence it is, that all things spoken in the scriptures are of 
true and proper use to every child of God, as far as their 
condition agrees with, or stands in need of, that help, com- 
fort, counsel, or reproof, mentioned there ; which is the scope 
of the Spirit of God in all those promises, instructions, or 
reproofs, recorded in the scriptures ; as if they, and their 
particular cases, had been first or only in the eye of God, 
when that word was spoken, or that instance given, be it 
what it will. What I say unto you (saith Christ speaking 
to the twelve 2 ) I say unto all, Watch ; for whatsoever things 
were written afore-time to others, were written for our learn- 
ing (as the apostle tells the church of the Romans, Rom. xv. 
4.) that we through patience, and comfort of the same scrip- 
tures, might have the same enjoyment and ground of hope 
as they had, being equally interested in the same God, who 
by his Spirit breathes the influence of the same grace of pa- 
tience and consolation, as he did to them to whom the Spirit, 
through the scripture, had formerly spoken. And thus the 
same word, being the inspiration of the Spirit, bloweth where 
it listeth, and the sound thereof is gone forth into all the 
world, and the spirit, drift, scope, and use of the words of 
life, to the end of the earth ; so far as the Spirit which 
breathed it begets any soul into the life of union with God 
in Jesus Christ, who is the eternal Word, and mind of the 
eternal Father ; from whom all the children of adoption re- 
ceive their being and birth, through the gospel of that only 
begotten Son of God, spiritually shed abroad into their 
hearts. So that every one who is Christ's may say, The 
history of the scriptures is for me ; the prophets are mine ; 
the apostles are mine ; and all their prophecies and preach- 
ings ; all promises, reproofs, and comforts, counsels, warn- 
ings, and examples ; the gospel under Moses' vail, and as it 
shines in the teachings and miracles of Christ and his apos- 
tles ; all things, all persons, Paul, Apollos, Cephas, life and 
death, are the inventory of my happiness ; things past, pre- 
sent, and to come, are mine, and for my use and advantage; 
because the Spirit which worketh in and by all these is mine ; 
and Christ, to whom I come, and whom I serve, is mine ; 

i Rom. 12: 5. 2 Mark 13:37. 



OF SALVATION. 63 

and Christ is God's; and his God and Father is mine, be- 
cause I am his, heir and co-heir with him. 1 Lei such a 

privilege cause the soul to cry out, Breathe, Spirit; open 
yourselves, blessed scriptures, and water me with all man- 
ner of teaching: le1 mysterious grace possess my under- 
standing; powerful wisdom from God, in the scriptures, 
make me wise to salvation: let strength and virtue from on 
high renew both spirit, soul, and body to all power of a spi- 
ritual mind ; that I may comprehend with all saints what is 
the height, length, depth, and breadth of the love of God in 
Christ ; and be built amongst them, upon the foundation of 
the apostles and prophets, Christ himself being my corner- 
stone; and his power enlivening me to every good word and 
work, through that common salvation wrought by him, for 
every member of his body; among whom I also am allowed 
to claim my share in the inheritance of light, through the 
faith and patience of the scriptures, and testimony of Jesus, 
my Lord. 

Abraham's faith was exercised upon the covenant which 
God made with him, saying, I will be thy God, and the God 
of thy seed : which faith was further confirmed by the sign 
of circumcision that was added to that covenant, and tried 
yet further, by offering up his Son ; in all which he had the 
faithfulness of God, and his free grace and power, in his eye, 
and saw Christ's day afar off therein ; although it is proba- 
ble he saw not distinctly the very manner of Christ's coming 
in the flesh, and the manner of his death and resurrection ; 
yet his faith in the substance of the covenant of God's free 
grace, and in his wisdom and power to accomplish the same 
in his own way and time, led him to embrace that covenant 
(so dispensed, and to that measure discovered), deriving in- 
terest in God to his soul, and the righteousness of justifica- 
tion thereby ; which the Spirit doth record in the scriptures 
to be the same justifying exercise of faith, which in the ful- 
ness of time should, and so did more distinctly put forth it- 
self upon Christ, dead and risen, and upon the power and 
truth of God therein, to confirm and actually execute, in the 
person of Christ, the branches and method of that covenant, 
relating to the taking away sin, applying righteousness, and 
uniting man to God in the mystery of grace and salvation : 
and therefore it is said, the same righteousness is now impu- 

1 1 Cor. 3: 21—23. 



64 A PRACTICAL DISCOURSE 

ted to believers as was to him ; * because the nature of their 
faith, and the substance of the object of that faith, are one 
and the same. In the exercise of which they walk in his 
steps; 2 and so are justified with believing Abraham, and 
inherit his blessing. 3 

And thus the scriptures, in the spiritual use thereof, do 
run through all visibly different dispensations, administra- 
tions, instances, and cases of the saints, with one and the 
same invisible scope, and secret tendency ; agreeable to the 
state of godliness, and relating to all persons within that 
state, in all times and ages ; and stand answerable to the 
nature of all future cases and experiences of the saints; 
which makes the whole scriptures which were written afore- 
time, to be of a perpetual present use, from the beginning to 
the end of that volume. So said Moses of old : 4 and so said 
John many hundred years after. 5 So that all scripture is 
given for a perpetual profit, by doctrine, reproof, exhortation, 
and instruction in righteousness, in order to the perfecting of 
the saints. 6 

And this brings in again the consideration of the wonder- 
ful condescension of God, who, though he be invisible, yet 
doth (in a sort) become visible in the word. There the life 
of God is manifested, even that hidden life which enlivens 
the new man ; it exposeth itself to be seen, heard, and 
handled by the thoughts of worm-like man.? 

God, who was pleased to manifest himself in the flesh, has 
carried on a correspondent method, in a way suitable to hu- ' 
manity, ever since the restoration was promised to the seed of 
the woman. The Spirit brings forth all its special operations, 
in the exercise of man's nature, reason, understanding, will, 
affections, and passions. The scriptures seem to bespeak 
nothing, ofttimes, but mere man ; whereas that human way 
was only fitted as a sheath for the sword of the Spirit to be 
carried in, through all several cases that could fall out in 
man's condition. God, who brought forth all things out of 
himself, doth still manage them, and uphold them ; for he is 
the life. As his purpose and power created the being of all 
things, so his providence and wisdom do create the continual 
disposing and ordering of all things ; " I create Jerusalem a 
rejoicing," saith the Lord: 8 and, therefore, having created 

1 "Rom. 4: 23-25. 2 Rom. 4: 12. 3 Gal. 3: 8, 9. 4 Dent- 4: 2. 

5 Rev. 22: 18, 19. G 2 Tim. 3: 16, 17. 7 1 John 1: 1-3. e Isa. 65: 18. 



OF SALVATION. 6fi 

a new thing in the earth, thai a woman should compass a 
man, 1 he works creatingly in the discovery and application 
of that mystery, and stoops down into all the senses, pas- 
sions, and affections of human nature, and brings forth the 
mystery of the new creation, under the veil and external 
use of the matter of the first creation ; which runs through 
the history of outward providences ; and through every 
branch of Moses' law, in all the sacrifices, every part of the 
tabernacle and temple, and through every dispensation, and 
among all the faculties of the rational soul, as the power of 
life striving against death, and light against darkness ; which 
is the scope of what we find spoken to man, or of or by man, 
in the scriptures : which is spoken, not to show only what 
man's natural thoughts are, but how the Spirit of God works 
in their thoughts, words, and actions, or how the spirit of 
Satan naturally and sinfully works in them ; which is deliv- 
ered to us by the Spirit of God, sometimes by the rules of 
doctrine and worship, sometimes by comforts, instructions, 
exhortations, reproofs, and threatenings ; and sometimes by 
examples and experiences, acted upon the person of good 
and bad, and acting in them. 

This operation of the Spirit of the Father and the Son 
begets all the convincements, heart-searchings, prayers, 
groans, cries, sighs, comforts, encouragements and conquests, 
which we find exercised in the hearts of the people of God, 
throughout the scriptures ; shewing, as in a glass, the com- 
bat betwixt the seed of the serpent, and the seed of the wo- 
man ; and establishing faith, and assurance of the victory 
by Jesus Christ, who is the Captain of their salvation. 

And God has recorded these things, in this manner, in the 
word, that all the people of God may read the w^hole of their 
present state and work acted in the scriptures, by the inspi- 
ration of the Spirit, which now breathes workings of a like 
nature in their hearts. The least groan cannot be lost, it is 
part of the Lamb's war ; and therefore there is a blessing 
in it. If the infinite purity, power, and holiness of God did 
reveal themselves only to the understanding, they would 
either distract and confound the soul, or harden it by absolute 
despair ; and therefore the infinite excellency of God des- 
cends into the human nature of Christ, that it might over- 
shadow, and work in the hearts of the saints, (who are of 

1 Jer. 31: 22. 



66 A PRACTICAL DISCOURSE 

his mystical body) by the Spirit in the scriptures, in the 
way of an instinct and new principle arising from that spir- 
itual closure made betwixt him and them in the gospel. 

The Glory of Christ's Condescension, 

The rejection of the gospel, and despising of the word, do 
chiefly arise from an aptness to stumble at the condescension 
of God. He sees a necessity to bow down lower to save 
poor man, than the pride of man's heart knows how to digest ; 
and therefore the humble and contrite ones get most of his 
company. 1 The soul who loves him, and believes his con- 
descension, in the design and truth thereof, can never be too 
low for relief. 

The manner of Christ's coming inio the flesh, and the 
despicableness of his person, in his life and death, seriously 
considered, and the ordinances which he blest and left to us, 
give no encouragement to the wisdom of the flesh. The 
way of carnal wisdom is to do great things by great means, 
but the wisdom of God doth great things by small and des- 
picable means ; 2 and so confoundeth the wisdom of the wise ; 
as the apostle argues, 1 Cor. i. from verse 20th forward.-. 
Were the truth of this mystery of God's condescension truly 
taken up, it would cure that repining dejection which tor- 
ments the saints about their unworthiness ; and thankfulness 
would accompany all their groans towards him. He is as 
low as the lowest, and their way cannot be hid from him,' 
though he be high and lofty, and the Creator of the ends of 
the earth. 3 The very kernel of the gospel's glory lies in 
the extremeness of his condescension in the way of saving 
man. His design is to exalt his glory to the highest heavens, 
by the unspeakable lowness of his stooping, throughout all 
the day of grace. He doth, by his Spirit, wait, weep, strive, 
grieve, sigh, suffer, and complain in the hearts of his people; 
figuratively, lie is said to do such things also himself on their 
behalf; their weak faith is mighty through him who works 
it, and who .carries his lambs in his arms. His infinite 
greatness is not at all the cause of any estranged distance 
betwixt him and mankind in this day of grace ; but the car- 
nal and unbroken pride and fulness of a self-righteous, care- 

1 Isa. 57: 15. 2 1 Sam. 16: G, 7.— Vs. 78: 70, 71. 2 Kings 5: 10-13. 
3 Isa. 40; 27-29. 57: 15. 



OF SALVATION. 



67 



less, ignorant, unbelieving heart He Betteth the solitary in 
families, and stooped) down to bring out those who are bound 
with, and sensible of, their chains; bul the rebellious dwell 
in a dry land. 1 

Oh, let this truth visit me, and save ! Here is a re-t in- 
deed. () my confused heart ! lie that heard the moan of 
Ephraim, 1 hears thy moan ; hears thy cries, picks up all thy 
tears, anil puts them in a bottle of remembrance : :i he created 
jewels for himself out of the dunghill, and rakes them to- 
gether into his cabinet. 4 When thou faintest, he fainteth 
[sa. xl. 27 — 31, Lie down upon him, view the travail 
he hath made in the person of Christ, and in the word 
of his grace throughout the scriptures, and say, how un- 
liable are is understanding and condescension! How 
undeservedly, how almightily, how completely, freely, and 
thoroughly, am I called by his grace, and led along this pre- 
sent wilderness by the right-hand of infinite care, power, 
and condescending, compassionate faithfulness ! Oh, the 
depth of the wisdom and knowledge of God in the riches 
thereof ! How unsearchable are his judgments, and his 
ways past finding out ! For of him, and through him, and 
to him are all things : to whom be glory forever. 5 

God in Jesus Christ the only Life and Breath of his People, 
and the Advantage thereof 

Although God has laid the foundation of faith ever so sure 
in the person of Christ, and so in himself, as it stands re- 
vealed in the scriptures ; and although the principle of be- 
lieving be planted in the heart at the first converting-work, 
and covenant-closure with Jesus Christ ; yet every acting of 
faith is .-till kept in the power of his own will, and lies 
locked up from any exercise, till he opens his hand, and fdls 
the soul with good things. And this God doth for singular 
ends, viz. : 

1. That God might be truly all in all, and all in every 
part ; that Ins people might be rich, and yet none of them 
be able to -ay. "My goods are increased; I have need of 
nothing ;"° that lie may appear to be, not only the author 
of their life, but of the breathing of their breath also ; and 

1 Psalm 78: 6. 2 Jer. 31: 18. 8 Psalm 56: 8. 

4 Mai. 3: 17. Psalm 113: 5-8. 5 Horn. 11: 33, 36. G Roy. 3: 17, 18. 



68 A PRACTICAL DISCOURSE 

that the whole life of the new creature might not be at the 
least distance from the heart of Christ. As the flame of the 
candle cannot live without the wick, so is it impossible that 
faith, or refreshment of heart, can live one moment, without 
supply of radical moisture decending from the head, Jesus 
Christ. Which doth not at all show the uncertainty of 
a believer's state, but rather tends to assure the same, by a 
frequent sending the soul to God in Christ, by whom it is 
established. 

2. It gives check to all allowed sin, and turning the grace 
of God into wantonness ; because he will not suffer the 
refreshment of his grace to be any where, but where he 
himself is. 

3. And, as breathings are tokens of life, so do renewed 
influences witness the reality of life arising from the union 
of the soul with Christ. 

4. It also tends to make the soul watchful against dis- 
tance from Christ, lest the breath of life withdraw, and 
the soul faint insensibly, and fall into the mire of a defiled 
mind, and so into sinful actions and a wounded conscience. 

5. It leaves no room for sloth, or sleepiness of heart ; lest 
the locks of eommunion with God's influential presence 
should be cut, and strength be gone ; l for no comfort or 
strength lives any longer, than by faith it derives vigor from 
the heart and mind of Christ. 

6. It represents mercy purely, as it showeth, that the 
standing of a believer is merely at the good pleasure of God, 
and doth necessitate the soul to be a resigned attendant upon 
the mere will of God ; and so allures the soul, by a neces- 
sary conquest of love, not to live to itself, but to the pure 
will of him who died, and rose again, and quickens all 
things. By which resignment unto mercy, it rests on the 
heart of Christ, and all the fulness of God that is there. 

7. It gives ground of hope in sad hours ; for, as the clouds 
come, so they go. "There is hope of a tree (saith Job), 
though it be cut down, that it will sprout again, through the 
reviving moisture at the root." 2 " And why art thou dis- 
quieted ? " saith David to his soul ; " I shall yet praise 
him." 3 And besides, 

8. This coming and going of the Spirit's influence is a fan, 
which blows and brings forth the lustre of all graces. Here- 

1 Judges 16: 19, 20. 2 Job 14: 7—9. 3 Psalm 43: 5. 



OF 8 M.\ ation. 69 

by patience, waiting, and hope are exercised; faith and love 
are exercised ; and every grace gets (as it were) a frequent 
new birth in the soul: and the spiritual fondness of the love 
is revived, and not suffered to die. Everynew breath of the 
Spirit is a new application of the soul's ingrafture into Christ, 
and demonstration of his power; and it is arrayed afresh, as 
in the day of its tirst espousals. 

9, And lastly, it gives assurance of the resurrection of 
the body, of which every resurrection by faith and hope, 
freely visiting the heart, and bringing it again to God, is the 
fore-runner. 

While my meditations are musing and expatiating after 
the invisible God, and would fain comprehend his way, me- 
tl links I receive a check from Zophar, 1 " Canst thou by 
searching find out God ; canst thou find out the Almighty to 
perfection ? It is high as heaven, what canst thou do ? 
deeper than hell, what canst thou know ? " Keep within 
the revealed word, and, in the patience and comfort of the 
scriptures, live by hope. " No flesh can see God and live." 
Vain man would be wise, and see the upshot of all things, 
but the vessel of his understanding cannot hold it. Salva- 
tion by Christ has one sort of raiment here, another kind 
hereafter ; here, it is a kingdom of patience and hope, but 
there, a kingdom of glorious enjoyment ; here is the earnest, 
there is the fulness. When I would look over, and see some 
glimpses of Canaan, a Jordan of difficulty stands in the 
way. What an adventure is it, to go down into the deep of 
death, and the last concluding change ! This is the last and 
great trial of faith, to venture all my hope in eternity at one 
ca t ; to expect to And the same God in Christ beyond the 
great gulf, who appears on this side by the Spirit of his 
grace ; to enjoy the same God to perfection, whose name I 
now call upon by prayer. O that victorious faith which 
claspeth about that love, from which neither life nor death, 
tilings present nor to come, can divide ! 2 I may not pre- 
sumptuously go up into the mount, but be content awhile 
with wilderness-work ; there remaineth a rest. Return 
again, O my soul, to thy laboring, waiting state ; be upon 
thy watch, the morning cometh by and by. Be not afraid to 
have thy night changed into day, and all thy weakness into 
perfection ; only labor out thy task, and " work out thy sal- 

1 Job 11: 7, 8. a Rdm. 8: 38, 39. 

G* 



70 A PRACTICAL DISCOURSE 

vation with fear and trembling" in this day of faith and 
hope. 

Am I called to work and travail ? How shall I undergo 
this task ? Contemplation is not the only work of my twelve 
hours ; and oh, for freedom of heart and understanding, that 
I may accomplish my work, my hireling's day ! Alas ! dear 
Christ, I am willing to work thy works, but would never be 
out of thy sight. May I not talk with thee, and look upon 
thy face, and yet work too ? The presence of my Christ 
makes any toil to be perfect freedom. 

Methinks I can more easily find, in some measure, my 
work throughout the whole scriptures (though that necessa- 
rily requires also the teachings of the Spirit), than I can 
know how to compose my heart to keep the faith of union 
and communion with God fresh ; and so to work and labor, 
in the strength of that fellowship, whatever I do in the 
world. When I am earnest in contemplation, I fear 
I fail in the matter of action ; when I am acting, I fear 
losing the marrow of my communion with my God. Here 
lies divine skill, to put both these together, as being of the 
same nature, and tending to the same end ; each of them 
helping, and not hindering one another. And to this end I 
desire help from on high, to find out my way and method, 
that I may so run, that I may at length finish my course 
with joy. 

How to hold Communion with God in Worldly Business. 

The spring of all christian conversation is justifying faith, 
which cleanses the soul, and quickens it at the same time, 
by union with Jesus Christ : and as, in the order of nature, 
life is first infused, before any action of life can appear ; so 
faith, being the accepting and digesting virtue which receives 
(in a way of spiritual digesture), Jesus Christ, as the bread 
of life, doth cleanse and save the soul : which new life puts 
forth actions of its own nature ; which actions do add a per- 
fection of growth and manifestation, but not of essence to 
that new life of justification, regeneration and reconcilement. 
All good works of a holy conversation are the improvement 
of that life, but neither the cause, nor matter of it. The 
cause of it is the mere grace and favor of God j 1 the matter 
of this life is the Spirit of Jesus Chrict quickening the soul, 

1 Eph. 1: 4—6. 



OF SALVATION. 71 

through anion with it ; and from thence grows action, as the 

delightful exercise of the life of the new man. 

So that my more or less improvement must not bring into 
question the essence of this life : the least action denotes life 
as well as the greatest, though the vigor thereof he in a dif- 
ferent measure : and if I doubt of life, I cannot produce it 
by action. Leaves will not put life into the tree ; but I am 
in that case, by soul-resigning and self-renouncing recumben- 
cy of heart, to rely upon Christ, to receive life from him. 
AH life lies in the root, and comes thence by naked believ- 
ing ; whereby God, through Christ, vents his own life by 
mere grace in my soul, that all actions of holiness may be 
no other than the life of God working in me. 

Now, that the soul may both enjoy its communion with 
God, and also work with vigor the works of righteousness 
in an active conversation, there must be order and uniformity 
in every action, suitable to the spirit of communion with 
God. Without order there can be no peace, but confusion ; ] 
and without uniformity also, arising from the root of union 
that is between the action and the spirit of the actor, there 
can be no peace ; for unity breeds peace, 2 by making things 
different or distinguishable to agree in one, by some common 
and uniting likeness or other. And because this uniformity 
seems naturally to offer itself to consideration in the first 
place, I would let a few thoughts pass upon it. 

In all Christian and morally good actions (forbearing to 
speak of ungodly actions, which are plainly opposite to the 
spirit of holiness), no action, though it be in itself materially 
good, ought to be left to its own swing, but always ought to 
move in the hand of the Spirit, as it gives direction by, and 
suitable to, the word. The natural motion of a wheel is to 
run downwards; yet we read, Ezek. i. 19 — 21, that the 
Spirit of the living creature being in the wheels, it guided 
the wheels from their natural motion, to the pleasure and 
will of the Spirit that was in the wheels ; up or down, hither 
or thither, as the Spirit moved them. The Spirit and the 
wheels were made one in motion, by reason of their union. 
And even so in all good actions, spiritually performed, there 
is a union betwixt the principle of holiness in the new man, 
and the outward action that is done ; which forms the action 
into a homogeneous suitableness to that inward principle, 

1 1 Cor. 14: 23,40. 8 Eph. 4:3 



72 A PRACTICAL DISCOURSE 

and prevents discord betwixt the action and the principle. 
Thus it was with Job, when he said, " My heart shall not 
reproach me." 1 And hence conies a peaceable execution of 
any action, when the principle of holiness does spirit the 
action, and the action outwardly manifests a justifying con- 
currence with the principle in and by which it acts, the 
action and the principle having the same united tendency to 
the will of God. 

And as union and symphony betwixt a gracious efficient 
principle and a gracious action render it a comfortable ser- 
vice, whatever the work be which is done ; so the order be- 
twixt these two doth order a further supply, to carry on a 
heavenly conversation here on earth. The goodness of every 
action (as to comfort in the execution thereof) ariseth from 
communion with God, for whom, and to whom, that action 
and service is performed. 

Although both be the exercise of the new man, yet each 
of them acts in its own order ; the heart is first under true 
warmth within, and then the suitable discoveries do follow. 
While I was musing (saith David) the fire burned, and then 
spake I with my tongue." 2 A good action loseth its inward 
beauty, when it keeps not its inside order ; it is numbered 
amongst dead works, and moves but in a ghastly manner, 
when the Spirit within moves not first ; much like to the ir- 
rational actions of a man who walks up and down, and talks 
by some strength of fancy, when he is in a dead sleep all the 
while. But when the root of communion with God bears 
the soul forth unto fruitfulness in any service, that service is 
comely ; because it springs naturally from a spirit of faith in 
the new man, and carries along the nature of the new man 
in whatsoever is done. 

These two being observed, would so carry on the course 
of Christianity, that, in the various affairs of this life, inward 
peace would not be broken ; there would be readiness at all 
times to pray, praise, and rejoice. Thus Abraham and 
Enoch walked with God ; and this is the glorious promise, 
" They shall walk up and down in the name of the Lord." 3 

All good actions, being thus rooted and ordered, have the 
glory of God in their eye, and run forth in the way of duty, 
carrying with them the encouragement of acceptance with 
God. And although the actions of such a man may visibly 

1 Job 27: 6. 2 Psalm 39: 3. 3 Zech. 10: V2. 



OF BALTJLTION. 

be without success, yel his heart is never wrung with disap- 
pointment : because his Becrel communion with, and sub- 
jection to, the will of God (this being the grand purpose of 
his heart in all he doth) brings him into a holy rest, and 

maintains an inclination to work still without repining, be- 
cause he 18 assured kk his work is not in vain in the Lord." 
So far as the will of God appears, he is quiet with joy, be- 
cause the pleasure of his work lies in doing God's will, and 
not his own. Communion with God makes up every breach 
with an all-suiheiency. Disappointments lock him up with- 
in the sanctuary of God, and keep the soul at home, in the 
pure taste of that communion with God in which it lives, 1 in 
a readiness to every good work. His good actions, though 
-mall as a cup of cold water, or successless, as Isaiah's 
preaching seemed to him to be, 2 yet cannot be lost ; because 
communion with God cannot be lost, in the virtue of which 
those works were done through Jesus Christ. 

The Soul sensible of a Cold Fit, 

But while I am thus travelling through the consideration 
of several privileges redounding to a believer, and the way 
of fruitfulness therein, I feel (methinks) many cold fits to 
seize upon me. As it was in the day that Abraham was 
troubled with the fowls which fell upon the carcasses, which 
God commanded him to divide for the confirmation of his 
promise, which Abraham drove away till the sun went down ; 
and when a deep sleep and horror of great darkness, fell 
upon him, then, even then did a fresh assurance of the cove- 
nant break forth ; 3 so, while I am in pursuit of this salva- 
tion of God, I find the. clouds gather about me ; I find not 
the same sensible entertainment of this salvation in my heart, 
as sometimes I have found : my soul is filled with guilt and 
weakness ; and therefore I am forced to retire back from pur- 
suing the necessary and practical meditations about the con- 
versation of godliness for a season, lest I leave an enemy at 
my back that is ready to invade me, which enemy, if it please 
the Lord to scatter by his Spirit, I shall be more able to at- 
tempt the meditations of the works of holiness, (besides 
having fresh activity to put on the garments of fruitfulness, 
in the service which I owe to Jesus Christ my Lord), than, 
methinks, for the present I am. 

i Psalm 73: 17, 25. 2 Isa. 49: 4. 3 Gen. 15: 7—18. 



74 A PRACTICAL DISCOURSE 

Inward rejoicing and peace have been much impaired, for 
some days, by weakness, guilt, and distraction that have 
seized on my heart : there they lie like a mountain of lead. 
When my thoughts would turn inwards, I hear nothing but 
outcries of accusation and guilt possessing my heart ; I can 
find no shelter at home, I am forced to fly abroad for a lodg- 
ing, for company, and food. I am now invited to renew 
myself a nest above my own heart. My heart is grown 
hard, dark and weak ; it prevails against my former sense 
of the divine presence ; and while it is thus filled with the 
clamors of death and confusion, me thinks I hear the Spirit 
and the Bridegroom say, ' Come, arise, this is not your rest : 
launch forth through the ocean of free grace, and let not thy 
expectation hanker towards thyself; though thy flesh fail, 
and thy heart fail, yet God is the strength of thy heart, and 
thy portion forever.' My work is to go forth ; and, oh ! that 
I could make a fair escape to him who stands upon the shore 
to receive me ! It is not a few meditations that will do 
it ; it needs a Redeemer's hand to fetch me out, and pull 
me up. 

The Soul flies out of all manner of Selfish Help, to Jesus 
Christ only. 

The delight of the new man is, to be under the govern- 
ment of the Spirit only ; and all the issues of the Spirit 
flow from the heart of Christ only, by which the heart of a 
believer is made new in him. This newness lies especially 
in the spirit of a believer, which complies with the Spirit of 
God in the witness of adoption, even while the contradiction 
of defiled nature warreth against it. And upon the single 
consideration of this interest and union betwixt Christ and 
the soul, yielding itself to the renewing of his Spirit, doth 
faith go forth, and claim foreign aid, namely, the aid of Jesus 
Christ, to whom it is united : in conveyance of which aid, 
Christ first takes the soul more closely into the virtue of 
that union, that every crumb of his help may truly savor of 
that relation which is betwixt him and the soul, through the 
new covenant ; and gives out no saving and effectual aid 
otherwise than as the product and offspring of that union : 
that so Christ may be all in all, as the treasury and efficient 
cause of all relief; and that the soul, through spiritual union 
only, might derive that relief to itself by faith : and as the 



OF SALVATION. It) 

foundation of the union lies in free grace, so the application 
thereof, and the abundant help arising thence, arc carried on 
wholly through the method of the same grace; for faith can 
converse with nothing (in order to the life of the new man) 
but free grace only in the promise. 

The very nature of free promises presents to the sou! the 
consideration of all relief to lie originally in God, and that 
the soul is invited thither only to obtain it, and cannot possi- 
bly return empty: for the dispensing of which grace to the 
3 of men, God manifests himself in the person of the 
Son. who dwells in human nature, displaying the evidence 
of this grace in the gospel ; and by bis Spirit persuades the 
soul to believe, accept, and improve it. 

And a soul being thus persuaded that his life lies in 
Christ, upon a free covenant grounded in God's decree, 
and established on i'vea promises, must not stay to ask leave 
of his guilty heart, whether he be fit to lay hold on this de- 
liverance, but must wholly consider the freeness of grace, 
pardon, and righteousness, which is in this new and living 
way, which God hath made, and not man. If Elijah had 
poured only on the parched earth that w r as under his feet, he 
could have had no argument of moisture to arise from 
1 hence ; but having by faith prayed to him who governs the 
clouds, dowm came the rain, and the drought vanished. 

Guilt of sin is like a hedge, or a wall, that can easily keep 
the heart in impenitency and unbelief; but when faith, work- 
ing by repentance, seizeth on Jesus Christ, it gives wings to 
i!"' soul of a believer to fly up above all those hinderances 
of natural guilt and weakness; and though sin and death re- 
main in his flesh, yet he is got beyond the captivity of the 
law of sin ; which can no more keep him from the freedom 
wherewith Christ hath made him free, than a hedge can 
keep an eagle from soaring up in the air. The sap which 
feels guilt is unbelief; now when the sap is withdrawn, the 
ray by degree-, although it remains in its place 
for a season: so is it with the old man; it cumbers the heart 
awhile; but Christ al his death gave it such a wound as will 
never be cured, till it lias (by the faith and prayer of every 
believer) bled itself to death. When guilt seems to live 
most, and jo udi a b< ! : vei fr -h to Christ, then does guilt 
die apace, and remains only bo keep a believer's faith in con- 
tinual exercise, and to render Christ precious to the soul ; as 
cold weather makes a fire the more comfortable and pleasant. 



76 A PRACTICAL DISCOURSE 

So that while my soul holds close to this, that Christ is, 
(upon his own terms) righteousness, pardon, and life to me, 
by making me his, and he being mine ; my own guilt be- 
comes no longer my own, but his, who bought me with his 
blood : and, as guilt is removed, so the fear of falling away 
is removed, and relief against daily infirmities is provided 
for. If, being an enemy, I was reconciled by his death, 
much more, being reconciled, shall I be daily saved by his 
life. Rom. v. 10. 

Faith only a Relief against Daily Infirmities. 

But whence ariseth this, that I find it harder to rely on 
him for power against daily infirmities, than against the 
power of condemning guilt ? Daily infirmities are the lesser 
enemies ; but yet they are present enemies, and seeming 
smaller in stature than the great bulk of universal human 
guilt, the soul of a Christian is apt to step forth against them 
in its own strength and resolution, and so returns many 
times with shame ; whereas the same covenant which takes 
away the stony heart and state of guilt, is that only which 
gives a heart of flesh, 1 and cleanseth the soul from all un- 
righteousness. I cannot therefore mortify one foolish, filthy, 
or distracted thought, without the application of the whole 
power of the same Christ who has removed my great and 
condemning guilt, and cast it into the sea. I am apt foolishly 
to think, that my great guilt being removed, I may, in some 
sort, take my ease, which degenerates more and more into 
spiritual sloth and unthankfulness : but my daily infirmities 
are like so many pricking briers, which continually afflict 
me, and let me know that this is not my rest ; neither can 
my own hands put away these briers, but only the consuming 
fire of Christ's Spirit setting his death and resurrection in 
battle-array against them. So that I see, if ever I expect 
a good hour in this world, or to all eternity, it must be only, 
and altogether in Jesus Christ. O, cursed nature ! O, cursed 
sloth ! that is ever dividing that which a blessed covenant of 
grace has joined together, Jesus Christ and my soul. All 
his drift towards me is, that he might be all in all to me. 
Oh ! that he would vent himself, and spare not ! He that 
bids me fear not, only believe, is alone able to make me be- 
lieve. I often draw near (methinks) to a resignation to him, 

1 Ezek. 36: 26. 1 John I: 9. 



OF SALVATION. 77 

with some universal scope, but I am quickly gravelled again; 
ya bo much delight remains in the very hope of my soul in 
him, thai makes me choose rather to have my rye* towards 
him, though with a long look, than to say within my heart, 
u My beloved will never come." Surely he will yet come, 
and his reward is with him. 

Resignation. 

This resignation to God is so glorious in the nature, ground, 
properties, and encouraging privileges of it, that the wry 

glimpse thereof makes my heart light, and even faint for de- 
to be wholly swallowed up and translated, in spirit, soul, 
and body, into the pure rest, and crystal life of God ; ] but 
the nature of it I can no more express, than a man's pencil 
can draw the portraiture of a man's life, or represent the na- 
ture of a taste ; although it may draw the figure of a human 
body, or represent the visible food, in which lies that hidden 
quality of life and taste. But if words may be used about 
it, I would thus express it : 

The Nature of Resignation. 

It is an allaying, delightful, willing, open-hearted dissolv- 
ing of all my desires, cares, and enjoyments of things present 
and to come, relating to soul and body, into the heart, and 
unUmited disposure of God in Christ Jesus, my Lord ; with 
an endless, victorious security of confidence, consolation, and 
peace of heart and conscience. 

The Ground of it. 

The ground of which glorious, active, and soul-quickening 
is Jesus Christ the Mediator, who has received his re- 
tied to the glory of God. 2 He is called their peace; 3 
their rest ; 4 their sufficiency : 5 their consolation ; 6 their 
joy ; 7 and all in all. 8 

In all these re.-pects Jesus Christ becomes the ground, and 
attractive cause of resignation, as he is God and man ; bring- 
ing the soul, through union with his humanity, to God, with 

l Rev. 22: 1. 2 Tvom. 15: 7. 3 Eph. 2: 14. 

4 Isa, 28: 12. Matt. 11:28. 5 Phil. 4: 13. 2 Cor. £: 5. 

6 2 Cor. 1: 5. - Matt. 25: 21. Psalm 43: 4. 8 Col. 3: 11. 

7 



78 A PRACTICAL DISCOURSE 

whom he is personally united : 1 into which union every be- 
liever is received, through the mystery of his free grace ; 2 
and the application of this union to the soul by faith breeds 
this blessed resignation : for Christ, being thus qualified in 
his own person, and thus uniting the soul to himself by his 
Spirit, begets in the heart, through believing, an answerable 
counterpart of conformity and quiet in the inward man ; 
which cannot be capable of loss, (because the unchangeable 
God is the author and unalterable cause thereof,) nor be ob- 
structed, while faith holds up its exercise therein ; but runs 
out into an infiniteness of satisfaction in all cases ; because 
it is got within the help, and boundless interest, of him who 
is infinite. It enters in, by the door of his manhood, to the 
partaking of whatever he is heir to ; and is made heir with 
him, of his conquest, fulness, security, peace, and joy. So 
that although the flesh may fail, God, who is the portion of 
a believer, faileth not ; but always unchangeably continueth, 
in the mystery of this union, to be the foundation and effect- 
ing cause of a believer's resignation to him, as into the hands 
of a faithful Creator. 3 Jesus Christ himself is the glorious 
model of resignation ; for in him God resigned up himself 
to the nature of man, 4 and being the eternal Son, he resigned 
up himself to the will of his Father, to be made a servant : 
and he who is the lawgiver resigns himself as subject to the 
law. God over all, blessed forever, resigns himself to the 
curse of the law ; he resigns up the freedom of his own will 
to a voluntary covenant ; he undertakes (as it were) the in- 
cumbrance of a family, and accounts the cries of many in- 
fants about him no disturbance, but a delight ; he resigned 
up his body to death, and became of no reputation, that out 
of his dust he might bring many sons to glory ; he resigned 
up his heart to bear their sins and sorrows ; he hath resigned 
up whatever he is to be theirs, that they might be his, and 
be saved, both living and dying, from all wants and fears, 
through his resignation of himself to stand or fall with them ; 
and from every part of his resignation he sends forth his 
Spirit to work resignation also in them, (according to the 
measure of his own gift in every part of his mystical body) 
by virtue of that union to which he hath called them with 
himself. And herein lies the ground and foundation of a 
believer's holy resignation to God. 

1 1 Pet. 3: 18. 2 John 17: 21. 3 1 Pet. 4: 19. 4 Heb. 2: 14. 



OF SALVATION. 



Properties of Resignation. 

As for the properties of this holy resignation, there is in 
all resignations a notion of weakness and subjection in the 
resigned, and of power and dominion in the person to whom 
resignation is made; there is also an alienation of Borne 

proper and private interest and change thereof into the in- 
terest of another. And so it is in the soul to God. The 
BOul, being sensible of its own inability, surrenders up itself 
to the almighty Redeemer, and doth subject itself to the 
rules of his dominion, as the clay to the hand of the potter; 
and so the soul in every nerve of it is loosed, and lies down 
at tin 4 will and disposal of the Lord, to do as it seemeth good 
unto him ; and by this means, the soul ceaseth from its own 
private interest, and submits itself to the merit, mercy, and 
laws of the Mediator, to be dieted, clothed, and employed 
by him only, and lives no longer by the life of its own 
hand. 1 

Now (to adopt our Lord's expressions on another occa- 
sion 2 ) he stretcheth forth his hands, and another girds him, 
and leads him whither his fleshly reason would not. He 
knows never a step of his way, but as the word and Spirit 
guide him. 3 He dares not say his sins are his own, or his 
righteousness his own, but as Christ, in the gospel, directs 
and suffers him to think and speak. He can neither accuse 
nor excuse himself, neither judge nor acquit himself, any 
otherwise than as he who bought him will allow, and give 
his consent ; because he is now under the dominion and 
interest of another ; and is no longer his own, but married 
to him who was raised from the dead. 4 

Ive-ignation is in its nature a free act, and is managed in 
the will, aiming to prevent a greater evil, or obtain a greater 
good ; and therefore carries some content and delight with 
it, and which is so much the more increased, as the power, 
authority, and faithfulness of the person resigned to is great 
and sure. So is it with a believer's resignation to God in 
Jesus Christ : every glimpse of his infinite power, truth, and 
mercy redounds to the increase of a believer's refreshment ; 
because he hath a right in the whole (by resignation there- 
unto) in the person of Jesus Christ; and it eyes his person 

1 Isa. 57: 10. IIos. 14: 3. 2 John 21: 18. 3 Isa. 42: 16. 

4 Roin. 7: 4. Numb. .30: 7, 8. 



80 A PRACTICAL DISCOURSE 

in\ail the worth, perfection, and excellency thereof, in such 
a way of interest and property therein, that it affects the 
heart, and makes way for the influence of that worth to 
enter upon the mind and affections ; and so renders it active 
(according to the mind of Christ, and the spirit of the gos- 
pel) to obey, believe, and live upon that mind of Christ, 
represented to the understanding ; improving his worth by 
a sanctified application to every part of the new man, as a 
holy oil, sinking into every faculty of the soul, and naturally 
inclining it to every exercise of that new state, to which it 
is begotten and brought forth by a spiritual resignation. 

Privileges of Resignation. 

The blessed privileges which arise from hence are innu- 
merable, as God, to whom the resignment is made, is un- 
measurable and infinite. The soul of a resigning believer 
enters into purity, establishment, protection, peace, love, 
liberty, boldness, satisfaction and joy in the Holy Spirit, and 
gains an entrance abundantly into " the kingdom of our Lord 
and Saviour Jesus Christ." 

1. Purity. As a stick of wood cast into the fire is 
changed into the property of that fire : so the casting of the 
soul into the blood of the immaculate Lamb makes it to 
abide no longer filthy, but spotless, through the price and 
preciousness of that blood ; the Spirit of which blood re- 
moves the private owning and conscience of guilt, and trans- 
fers it into the laver of Christ's satisfaction ; and the soul 
comes forth clothed with pardon, righteousness and full ac- 
ceptance in the sight of God, the righteous Judge ; who has 
constituted a satisfaction to himself by such a method, that 
his mercy to a sinner might be an act of righteousness, or 
justice to Jesus Christ the Mediator; and that, by resignation 
to Christ, a believer might enjoy it in enjoying Christ ; 
whose nature is also shed abroad in the heart by the wash- 
ing of the new birth, through the word of his grace, to mor- 
tify and cleanse the heart, as a seal of implantation into the 
perfect righteousness, and acceptance of his person who 
bought it with his blood, Gal. ii. 20. 1 John i. 9. 

2. Establishment. Which resignation gives establish- 
ment, by engaging him who bears up the pillars of the earth, 
to bear a poor shiner's weight, and keep it from reeling. 
Resignation doth incorporate a believer into the very Rock 



SALVATION. 81 

of ages. It oonveyeth a sinner, through the word of free 
grace and power, clean from his own sin, and gives it an ar- 
rival illtO the very breast of Christ, where, it abides without 
sin or change. 1 Though sin remains in the natural man, and 
dwells with human flesh, through the whole circuit of the 

first Adam's state; vet faith replants the soul into the second 
Adam, who is as wholly pure, as the first Adam is wholly 
sinful. So that a sinner, in coming to him, resigns himself 
up from perfect sin to perfect purity. The body of Christ, 
as it is mystically below, remains for a season under the 
washing of the word ; but as it is mystically married to 
Christ risen from the dead, and sitting at the right hand of 
( rod with him, it is pure as the sun in its brightness, and es- 
tablished forever above all shaking storms of the lower re- 
gion, whether it be guilt, change, or danger. 

3. Protection. Resignation doth naturally claim protec- 
tion, as appears in the case of the Gibeonites. 2 Charity and 
pity would induce a noble mind to help the distressed, though 
there were no claim of right in the distressed to move such 
a noble mind. It were cruelty to suffer only a neighbor's 
ox to lie in the ditch, without some real willingness to help 
it out : but resignation gives to the resigned a rightful in- 
terest in the person to whom the resignment is made : and 
therefore Christ owns the cherishing and protection of a re- 
signing soul, upon the account of conjugal property and 
right. No man ever yet hated his own flesh: and therefore 
not only protecteth, but nourisheth it, " even as Christ the 
church." 3 This rightful interest in him, makes every branch 
of the wants, griefs, burdens or dangers, that every resigning 
believer has, to be Christ's concernment as truly and as 
much (for the nature of them) as the salvation of all the 
elect, for which he came into the world, and died. His sal- 
vation reacheth into every crevice of their need, " He saveth 
to the uttermost ; " 4 which saving protection stands fitted to 
a resigned soul, as a curious key to the wards of a lock, and 
intermits not the least moment from suitable and needful 
help ; r> only he manages it in his own method, which a re- 
signed soul owns he is satisfied and delighted in. 

4. Peace. Hence comes peace, when the soul of a be- 
liever, by resignment (having viewed the compass of plenti- 

1 1 John 3: G. 2 Josh. 10: 4— G. » Eph. 5: 29. 

4 Heb. 7: 25. G Isa. 27: 3. 



7 



* 



82 A PRACTICAL DISCOURSE 

ful redemption, the strength of the rock that is under him, 
and the helmet of salvation which is over him) saith, " Re- 
turn unto thy rest, O my soul, for the Lord hath dealt boun- 
tifully with thee. God hath delivered my soul from death, 
mine eyes from tears, and my feet from falling ; " * "I will 
now lay me down and sleep, for no less than God himself 
makes me to dwell in safety ; " 2 the peace of resignation is 
Christ's peace, which none can divide from a believer : it is 
his garrison, and fortified security. 3 

5. Love. And from hence flows love to God, the Father, 
Son, and Spirit. The love of the Father in the Son, and 
by the Spirit, in all the unspeakable discoveries of it, warms 
the heart into this resignation unto him. 4 Christ appearing 
so amply furnished to conciliate love, and declaring the 
wealth, power, and glory of his kingdom, 5 and presenting 
bracelets of his kindness, (as once Abraham's servant did to 
Kebekah in behalf of Isaac, 6 ) he gains the heart of a be- 
liever to forsake former contentments, and resign up its ut- 
most affections to him : the more the soul resigns, the more 
doth it love ; and the more it loves, the more it doth resign 
to him. The love of God shed abroad in the heart by the 
Spirit, from the heart of Christ, breeds resignation, and 
that resignation still feeds love ; each moving the other with 
a perpetual motion ; and so, from an endless principle of 
union with Christ, it runs forth to all eternity, 

6. Freedom. From whence ariseth also a sense of per- 
fect freedom. The pales of separation and distance are 
broken down, free access to God in Christ is gained, misap- 
prehensions removed, and open-heartedness interwoven be- 
twixt Christ and the soul. The heir is no longer a servant, 
but a son. 7 Esther is brought from the custody of Hegai, 
to the king's palace. 8 The boundless deity, in all its purity, 
power and protection, is the range of a resigning believer. 
The law is removed ; the prince of this world is judged and 
cast out ; the former state of enmity and bondage is over 
and gone ; and now the soul dilates itself with full spread 
into that " freedom wherewith Christ hath made it free." 9 

7. Boldness. Which freedom brings in boldness along with 
it. The soul being once resigned up to Christ, is no longer a 

i Psalm 116: 7, 8. 2 Psalm 4: S. 3 John 14: 27. Phil. 4: 7. 

4 1 John 4: 19. 5 Psalm 145: 11. 6 Gen. 24: 53. 

' Gal. 4: 1—7. 8 Esth. 2: 8, 16. 9 John 8: 36. Gal. 5: 1. 



OF S vl.\ A HON. 

stranger, bul of his household; yea, betrothed to his person 
in righteousness and tender mercy, and is always in his eye. 
Resignation betwixt Christ and the soul being mutually past, 
darkness is swallowed up of light, there is no shelter Tor the 
beasts of prey. No weapon that is formed against a be- 
liever can prosper, who has resigned himself to the Former 
of all things; he may now dwell safely in the wilderness, 
and sleep in the wood ; a lion-like courage grows in the 
soul from the Lion of the tribe of Judah, to whom , by resig- 
nation, it is united. 

8. Satisfaction. What now can hinder satisfaction ? Why 
may not the soul say, I have enough : my inheritance is law- 
fully gotten ; neither have I gotten it with my sword and 
bow, (as Jacob got a portion from the hand of the Amorite), 
but I have given myself for it. I have resigned my whole 
self to Christ, and he has resigned his whole self to me. I 
own and accept his resignation, and he accepts mine. What 
further remains, than that I bid farewell to my own poverty 
and wretchedness, and put on change of raiment ? Why 
may not I dwell amidst the flagons 1 of his satisfying pre- 
sence ? I am filled, and my cup runs over. 

9. Joy. And now also, who may hinder a satisfied soul 
from joy? Will not all the foundation-work and walls of 
this building bear a superstructure of "Joy in the Holy 
Spirit ? " Is not the upshot of this resignation betwixt 
Christ and a believer mutual joy ? " He joys over his be- 
loved with singing ; " 2 and her spirit rejoice th in God her 
Saviour." 3 As far as any degree of this resignation tastes 
these high privileges, so far doth a relish of joy grow in the 
soul. Resignation brings the soul into the heart of Christ, 
who hath triumphed gloriously in rescuing his spouse, and 
now " rejoiceth over her as a bridegroom rejoiceth over the 
bride ; " 4 and in the day of the gladness of his heart calls 
her, " Ilephzibah, that is, my delight is in her ; " 5 which 
joy begets an echo of its own likeness from her again, " My 
delight is in him." 6 And thus the crown of joy is placed 
on the head of spiritual resignment. The soul cannot re- 
sign to God without joy in him, nor rejoice in him without 
resignment. They live in one another; because the seed 
and nature of all spiritual privileges lies in every privilege ; 

1 Cant. 2: 5. a Zeph. 3: 17. 8 Luke 1: 47. 

4 Isa. 62: 5. 5 ver. 4, marginal rendering. G Isa. 58: 14. 



84 A PRACTICAL DISCOURSE 

and the nature of this privilege being endless, because God 
is everlasting, the crown of joy can therefore never wither. 

10. An entrance into the purchased possession. And the 
more this resignation to God in Christ gets ground in the 
soul, the more is " entrance made into the everlasting king- 
dom of our Lord Jesus Christ ; " not as it is a work done 
by us, but wrought in us ; in which the heart is made to give 
way, and is made voluntary therein by the Spirit of grace. 
Which work is here carried on through much contradiction 
in the flesh, which strives against it, while the inward man, 
in every believer, pants after it, and finds no rest, but as the 
power of this holy resignation to God in all things prevails ; 
till at last it steps over mortality, and leaves every obstruc- 
tion behind perfectly and forever ; and then God is all 
in all. 

Christ enjoying his spouse without any reluctancy or un- 
suitableness in her, and she enjoying her husband without 
any veil upon his face ; she hears his pure language, and re- 
turns pure language again : love has its full vent on both 
sides : the mutual yearning of bowels will then be satisfied ; 
the voice of, Come, which sounds from Christ above, and 
the believer below, will terminate itself in one eternal, in- 
separable meeting. Resignation will then enjoy an uninter- 
rupted delight. How astonishing is the thought of this ! 
When the thought of it is strained through the weakness of 
my faith, conflicting with so much darkness, and present 
treachery of heart, and self-unworthiness, the glimpses thereof 
make me both fear and rejoice at once ; and yet I am not 
able to rejoice perfectly, for fear ; nor fear perfectly, for 
hope. infinite Redeemer ! be over and above all my fear 
and faintness ; act like thyself, almightily and freely, that 
my heart may shout for joy in the hope of the glory of God, 
and the day of refreshing, which is promised to appear ; 
" even so come, Lord Jesus." 

And now if I might, out of all these considerations, but 
take home to my own heart a few chips to kindle mine own 
fire, and be really assigned one inch nearer to Christ, I 
should think the meditations of this day happily given in. 
What else doth my soul long for? Some crumbs of this 
glorious banquet, that my soul may inwardly commend the 
feast, and say, " The Lord hath done great things for me ; 
Yea, Lord, let thy kingdom come, and thy will be done." 
I wait, and cry, Amen, Amen. 



<;<^i> \ SANCTUARY. 

HOW TO FIND 

GOD A SANCTUARY IN TIME OF TROUBLE; 

With the Manner of the Author's entering into that Sanc- 
tuary, by actually covenanting with God. 



Perceiving a dark cloud and tempestuous storm to be 
rising, and being called to enter into the chambers of divine 
protection ; 1 and finding it the practice of the Lord's 
people ; 2 and Jesus Christ having declared himself a shel- 
ter from the storm, 3 and inviting me to enter into his rest, 4 I 
judge it my duty to follow his voice, and betake myself to 
the horns of the altar : but being hindered by my own guilti- 
ness and unbelief, I am forced, either to wander into desola- 
tion of mind, or else to endeavor to cut my way through the 
incumbrances of my own darkness, by the sword of the 
Spirit. If the Lord shall be pleased to favor me, and bless 
this attempt, I shall be safe under his wings. And seeing 
nothing makes calamities terrible but guilt of sin, I judge it 
my duty to set my main battery against that strong hold ; 
and to that end I have chosen out for my help that bless- 
ed word, 



He that hath loved us, and washed us from our sins in his 
own blood. — Rev. 1: 5. 

TThich scripture yields excellent relief to that soul that 
can mix it witli faith. 

The words, " He that hath loved us," do impart the 
ground of a sinner's union with Christ ; for it is the nature 
of love to seek and effect union : and we must be one also 
with him, before ours can be made his, and his made ours. 

1 Isa. 26: 20. a Psalm 57: 1. 143: 9. 8 Isa. 32: 2. 4 Matt 11: 23. 



86 HOW TO FIND GOD 



How Christ's Blood doth wash. 

And the words, our sins and his own blood, being com- 
pared together, show, that from union with him flows a 
transferring of our sins upon him, and, as it were, mixing 
them, without any personal stain, with his own blood, and so 
making them his. Our infection, by his own will, entered, as 
it were, by imputation and burden, into the blood of the un- 
spotted Lamb. He who was personally without sin, suffered 
himself to be all overladen with the imputation of the loath- 
some nature and absolute guilt of our sins, and so became 
sin for us ; and yet his blood remained pure, and himself 
without sin. 

The word washed alludes to legal washings for purifica- 
tion. He removed our sins from us ; making them no longer 
ours, but his own. As the filth of a garment is washed, 
whereby the garment becomes clean : so our " iniquities 
passed away," 1 by imputation and burden of the curse, into 
the living body, and life-blood of Jesus Christ. And so the 
sinner (as the original and principal malefactor) and Christ 
(as surety) do stand both of them before God the righteous 
Judge ; and both, in some kind, equally liable to sentence : 
for if Christ had not been able to have freed himself from 
those sins, they would have sunk him and the sinner too. 
And herein the metaphor of washing a garment comes short 
of this mystery ; for the filth being gone from the garment 
into the water, the garment is thereby actually cleansed, 
though the water be never cleansed from the filth that it 
borrowed of the garment ; because the water and the gar- 
ment are two separate things : but in this mystical washing, 
the person washed and the blood washing are joined together, 
in the union of Christ's mystical person ; so that if Christ, 
who is the surety, miscarry in his work, all they, whose hope 
of redemption lies only (through mystical union) in their in- 
terest in him, must needs perish with him ; and if he prevail, 
they are delivered ; for this washing at his agony and death, 
though in some sense, inchoative, or in its beginning only, 
was yet accounted perfect ; and was so, as it stood in relation 
to, and connection with, his resurrection, which made him a 
complete and perfect author of eternal salvation. 2 

i Zech. 3: 4. 2 Heb. 5: 9. 



a synch auy. -7 



How a pure Christ was made. Sin far us. 

But how Christ could bear our Bins, and be made sin for 
us, and yel be personally pure, this is a greal wonder; and 
he must be without sin nil the while, else he could not have 
taken away our sins. One contrary expels another: but he 
doth it not at a distance, as the light of the sun drives away 
darkness before it: but he enters sinlessly into the state of 
our sin, that we might enter into the state of his righteous- 
ness. He cures, not as a physician, who cures by medicines, 
but was himself touched and sufferingly affected with our in- 
firmities ; he was made sin for us. He not only espoused 
the punishment of our sins to himself, but was married also 
to our guilt, and to all the dreadful workings of it, so far as 
that it made him sick and sorrowful, even to the very death. 
He had the guilt of our delight in sin, without any delight 
in it. He made himself guilty of all our sins, but had no 
guilt of his own, nor any defilement to his nature by ours. 
If one man be guilty of another's sin, he is defiled himself, 
without lessening the defilement of the other man ; because 
the guilt is not translated from the one to the other, but ex- 
tendeth and spreadeth its poisonous nature from the one to 
the other ; and so fills, as it were, both vessels, without any 
removal of the guilt ; but Christ's nature, being capable of 
no personal infection, gives liberty and scope to the guilt of 
a sinner to vent itself wholly into the bottomless and endless 
satisfaction, merit, and righteousness of Christ the Mediator, 
till the last drop of it be gone, and the fountain dried up, 
through union with his spotless nature. Our sins touched 
him, as to an experimental sense of the filth and burden of 
them, lie bare our sins in the body of his flesh : but that 
flesh, being personally united to the Godhead, remained 
pure, and incapable of any corruption, through the purity 
of that personal union. 

But how inexpressibly far he took in the sense and bur- 
den of all sin, and made it his own in the utmost measure, 
and how infinitely pure he still remained ; the knowledge of 
this the angels desire to look into, and must be reserved, till 
the saints come to know him even as they are known. 

Sin dwells in our nature habitually and actually, but lay 
upon him by imputation ; and so passively his nature bare 
our sin, but could not act it. 



88 HOW TO FIND GOD 

But how should a sinner come to enjoy redemption from 
his sins by a Mediator thus wonderfully qualified, and so ad- 
mirably sustaining a sinner's guilt ? 

This is worth the inquiry ; but I must not without pre- 
paration rush into this mystery. It is holy ground ; I must 
be unshod, that I may enter in, and stand upon it. 1 " No 
man cometh to the Son, but whom the Father draweth." 2 I 
may, indeed, get the notion of something about it ; but can 
come to no heart-enjoyment, without the unction of the 
Spirit of Christ to possess, and so to lead me in within the 
shadow of this almighty Redeemer. It is wearisome and 
barren work to be gaping towards this mystery by a mere 
speculative search ; and therefore I would fain make it my 
design to give away my whole self, in every step of this in- 
quiry, to Jesus Christ, that I may be taught this mysterious 
privilege, as the truth is in him, whom thus to know is eter- 
nal life. And therefore, with a holy fear and tenderness, I 
desire to wade, according to the scriptures, into this depth, 
by " the Spirit which searcheth the deep things of God." 3 

How to enjoy Christ actually. 

As a foundation for further search, I find, that Christ him- 
self, and a conscience purged from guilt by means of his 
death are things enjoyable ; 4 and so offered and held forth 
in the gospel. My work in the next place is, to inquire how 
I may actually enjoy an interest in so high a privilege. 

I am, in the first place, (under a sense of my own neces- 
sity) to lie down before God, and suffer Jesus Christ, as 
crucified and risen again, to enter with all his train into my 
heart, and take possession there : and I then am to suffer his 
Spirit (shutting my eyes and stopping my ears against car- 
nal reasonings) to lead me into a willing resignation to this 
crucified and risen Christ, my Redeemer ; which is a spir- 
itual marriage to his person. A notional landscape of this 
state will not serve my turn. O Thou, " in whom all the 
promises are yea and amen," renew a right spirit within me, 
and let my very soul be moulded into the truth by every 
meditation. 

My guilt has increased upon me this day ; I have lost my 
thirst after God, and do find my strength to waste. My 

1 Ex. 3: 5. 2 John 6: 44. 3 1 Cor. 2: 10. 4 Heb. 9: 14. 



A BANCTUABY. 89 

drift is not pure; and I am carried away into a withered 
frame, and my heart cannot return. Tin 1 sounding of thy 
bowels, the multitude of thy tender mercies, arc able to 

bring me back, and enlighten me with the light of life. An 
impure eye cannot behold thee, nor a surfeited mind cat of 
this manna. My disease is great, but there is no healing 
medicine to be had but in thee, my Redeemer. 

Wouldst thou in earnest, my soul, be cured, and effec- 
tually enjoy the redemption of Christ, then retire to him 
alone, and let thine eye be singly fixed there. Render up 
thy guilt to him who lias bought it out of thy hands. With- 
draw thy shoulder from the burden, and, with a loathing of 
thyself and thy sin, leave it upon Jesus Christ. His Father 
and thine laid thy guilt upon him already on the cross ; and 
when thou dost by faith lay thy guilt upon him also ; thou 
dost not crucify the Son of God afresh ; but dost only set to 
thy seal, that he is " the Lamb of God that taketh away the 
sin of the world." He bought thy sins to destroy them : he 
shed his blood, that their guilt might be condemned ; and 
waits upon thee, to bring them forth to him for execution. 
It is not a pain, but a pleasure to him, that a sinner delivers 
up his sins to him ; because the vengeance he sustained for 
sins has fixed a day of vengeance in his heart against the 
daily guilt of his redeemed ; ] and revenge is sweet. What- 
ever briers and thorns are set before him in battle, he will 
go through them, and burn them together. 2 He sustained 
the curse, satisfied justice, and returned to his Father with 
the tokens of his conquest ; and now he attends, in the gos- 
pel, upon the elect, to cause them to shake themselves from 
the dust, and bring forth their dead (the slain of the Lord) 
to the burial. A sinner then lays his sins upon Christ, when 
he believes that God the Father laid them upon him. God 
the Father imposed the burden, and a sinner by faith con- 
curs, and melting under the sight of divine justice, cries out: 
" Even so, O Father ! because it pleased thee to bruise him; 
even so, O dear Redeemer ! because thou lovedst not thy life 
to the death, that thou mightest redeem me by thy own 
blood ; I leave my sins upon the sacrifice of thy flesh, and 
would crave leave to look upon him whom the Father made 
an offering for my sins, and whom I have pierced ; and in 



1 Isa. 63:4— 6. 2 Isa. 27: 4. 



90 HOW TO FIND GOD 

the view of this costly redemption, would mourn over him, as 
a man mourneth for his only child." 1 

But yet, that I may improve this mysterious happiness to 
the more full advantage, I would beg help from the Lord, to 
assist me with a true view of the real existence of those 
things which relate to Jesus Christ, and God's covenant con- 
cerning me, and with me in him ; and what is the mysteri- 
ous method and power of the actual exercising of faith 
thereupon. 

The Gospel is a Heal Thing. 

The real existence of all gospel-privileges is witnessed by 
the scriptures, which do positively attest, that those things 
are so and so, as is expressed ; but such is the base treachery 
of my heart, that the custom of reading and hearing those 
things makes them seem common, and debaseth their ma- 
jestic worth ; and so, beholding them through a literal and 
common estimate, my eye loses at once their true color and 
certainty, which enfeebles my apprehensions, as to the lively 
belief of their real existence. 

And in order to the curing of this disease, I am waiting 
on the God of light and truth, to breathe upon my heart such 
a quickened frame of meditation, as may humbly and effec- 
tually steer my soul to the mark which I aim at. Unmorti- 
fied invention would be busy to hammer out some answer to 
my query ; but, alas ! it is a physician of no value : for who 
can reason a blind man into the use of his sight? He only, 
who brings life and immortality to light, is able to make the 
things that appear not, to be seen. 

Hast thou not heard, O my soul, that thy true and only 
welfare lies in things which neither the eye of the body, nor 
the natural eye of the mind, can attain to? How self- 
denying then shouldst thou attempt this search ! And there- 
fore, lest thou catch a shadow instead of the substance, turn 
thyself once more by prayer, to Him who opens the eyes of 
the blind ; who hath promised he will not give thee a stone, 
when thou askest bread for thy necessity : and then con- 
sider, 

1. To what end dost thou profess that thou belie vest the 
scriptures to be the word of God, unless also thou settest to 

1 Isa. 53: 10. Zech. 12: 10. 



A SAHCTtLlBT. 91 

thy seal, thai it is the very will and mind of God, expressed 
in those words of truth? Consider also, 

2. Thai the most serious discourse of the people of God 

about spiritual things (although their hearts are not under an 
equal degree of spiritual warmth) do attesl that those things 

are really true. The more spiritually anything IS preached 
or spoken, it yields the more relishable taste to their inward 
man ; and though they are of different nations, yet they ac- 
cord in the same main principles of the new creature, and 
the same substantial inward exercise of heart. Observe, 
also, 

3. With what radical uniformity the opposers of grace do 
resist the convictions of his Spirit. Arid besides, 

4. Doth not thy truest rest lie in thy nearest approaches 
to God in Christ, as thy centre, towards which thou art rest- 
lessly rolling, as the true and real bottom of all thy hope 
and comfort ? 

But wouldst thou indeed know that the matters contained 
in the word of Christ are real things ? Then never read or 
hear for mere knowledge sake. Look for some beams of 
Christ's glory and power in every verse. Account nothing 
knowledge, but as it is seasoned with some revelation of the 
glorious presence of Christ, and his quickening Spirit. Use 
no conference about spiritual truths, for conference sake ; 
but still mind the promoting of something for real edifica- 
tion. Use not duties for custom and mere service sake, but 
for approach and nearer communion with God. 

Make no person thy pattern, more or less, than as some 
warmth of the presence of Christ appears in his words, 
walk, and conversation. 

Let thy recreation be prayer ; suffer not guilt to rankle ; 
wash often in the blood of Christ ; do not slightly grieve the 
Spirit, but pray for the fulfilling of the promise, that the 
Spirit shall teach you all things. 1 

Let nothing bar up your way from craving pardon of sin, 
and hope of relief. And if you thus trade in spiritual things, 
as real, they will appear more and more to be real, according 
to the promise, John vii. 17. " If any man will do his will, 
he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or 
not." 

But, alas ! while I would thus muse my heart into some 

1 John 14: 26. 



92 HOW TO FIND GOD 

spiritual freedom and activity, I am again dismally invaded ; 
my filthy and vile heart rebels ; the prince of darkness hath 
violently broken in upon me ; my conscience is defiled, and 
my peace wounded ; my prayers are heartless ; I have 
turned myself 1 round into a giddiness ; I have lost my station, 
and am bleating up and down like a lamb in a large place ; 
I got a glimpse of relief, but cannot fix my eye upon it. 
But what gain I by solitary complaint ? I have sinned in 
the sight of God, angels, and men, in the sight of my Re- 
deemer, in the sight of my own conscience ; and, oh that I 
could pour out my soul as water before the Lord ! It would 
be a rich mercy to me to be admitted to cast myself at the 
feet of my Judge, and get so near as Mary did, to wash his 
feet with tears, and wipe them with the hairs of perpetual 
resignation to himself, and to his disposal of me, to purge 
me in what method soever, so I may be clean, and the seven 
abominations in my heart cast out. 1 I would fain say, in 
faith, I will yet look to thy holy temple, 2 blessed be the 
name of him who is strong, merciful, gracious, and abundant 
in pardon. Blessed be that God, that Redeemer, the Lord, 
and yet (unworthy, sinful wretch as I am) my righteous- 
ness. 

O that God would yet spirit me to inquire into, and taste, 
the bread which came down from heaven ! I am searching 
after the real existence of Christ, and the benefit which 
flows from union with him. And I perceive that my pe- 
culiar happiness lies not in this, that these things have real 
existence in themselves, but that I know them to exist, and 
myself to exist in them, and they in me. 

The things themselves are spiritual ; I cannot know them 
naturally, but by the Spirit of faith ; for flesh cannot see 
Spirit ; in the mount will the Lord be seen. As far as God 
shines upon my heart and the ordinances, so far I behold a 
real worth and glorious power in them. In his light only I 
see light. 3 As far as grace gets life in my soul, so far I see 
the real excellency of it. As the life of God opens itself to 
my heart, so far I live, and know the ravishing comfort of 
spiritual life ; for with him is the fountain of life. When 
he withdraws his breath, I do (as it were) return to the 
dust : for in him I live and move. I know no worth in any 
Christian, but as I partake with him in the same spirit and 

1 Prov. 26: 25. 2 Jonah 2: 4. 3 Psalm 3G: 9. 



/ 



A SANCTUAItY. ( J'o 

life. Divine commands, reproofs and comforts, do so far 
affect my heaii powerfully, as my soul doth live in him who 
speaketh them. The demonstration of spiritual tilings doth 
so far appear convincing, as my heart is really transformed 

by them into the image of Jesus Christ, my Lord, and my 
Head. Though I have a renewed principle of light and 
sight, yet I cannot exercise the sense of spiritual sight, till 
the Sun of righteousness sends forth a beam to me, by which 
I may behold him in the reflection of his own light. And 
this binds over my soul to the necessity of a mortified, be- 
lieving resignation to the Author of all light, sight, and 
strength, who is an unchangeable rock, and his w T ork is per- 
fect. Although I am full of changes, yet his covenant keeps 
me from utter falling. My strength and sight are ever de- 
caying, but he renews his loving-kindness every morning. 
O, let the day hasten, in which I may know as I am known, 
and the shadows of darkness and infirmity flee away ! 

I might come to a more real view of Jesus Christ, and 
appropriate him and his benefits nearer to my heart, if I had 
practically learnt the exercise of faith. God has allowed a 
venturing boldness to believing, that it may step forth and 
stand in the breach when all seems to be lost. When Lot is 
taken, and Ziklag burnt, and all carried away captive, then 
can faith turn the day, and recover the spoil. 1 

Faith only brings the Heart to Christ. 

Faith is a distinct grace, wrought freely by the Holy 
Spirit, quickening the heart to assent to, and rest upon the 
word of God, upon the account of the truth of God who 
spoke it. It is distinct, as seeing and hearing are distinct 
from the other senses. It is wrought freely by the Spirit, 
and so no acquired notion ; it quickens through conveying 
life from Christ to the heart by divine appointment. It as- 
sents to, and rests upon, the word, against the contradiction 
of flesh and blood. It eyes the truth of God, as the foun- 
tain of its satisfaction and success. And so it first unites 
the heart to Christ, and gives actual interest and property in 
him, and in the covenant which God made with him before 
the world was ; and consequently in all the blessings con- 
tained in the covenant. 2 

As the gospel freely offers Christ, pardon, and life, so faith 

* Gen. 14:11, 16. 1 Sam. 30: 1, 19. 2 2 Tim. 1: 9. Eph. 1: 3, 4. 

8* 



94 HOW TO FIND GOD 

takes them freely ; not measuring the ground of accepting 
them from below, but from above. It sees the word to be 
the breathing of God in Jesus Christ, hi which all his attri- 
butes are working ; and beholds it (as it were) the audible 
voice of God, and the very mind of Christ. It cannot rest 
satisfied in the weakness of the letter, but passeth through 
the letter immediately to the person of Jesus Christ, and 
converseth with God in him. The whole scriptures are to 
the eye of faith, in the quality of a pair of spectacles, 
through which faith gets the sight of, and closeth with, the 
promise. It magnifies the scriptures, ordinances, and sab- 
baths, as they are the portal through which to enter into 
communion and coverse with God himself. It believes the 
scriptures, that make report of the will and pleasure of God, 
and so passeth through them, to the will, mind, and name of 
God himself. Faith visits the word as a faithful guide in its 
journey, and useth it no farther than as a means tending to 
bring the soul and God together. The word reports that 
Christ is there, his life, his strength, his grace, is there, and 
requires the soul to enter in and take the whole ; faith enters 
in, finds, and receives it. Faith having found its object, and 
espying the way how to come at it, is quickened by the Spi- 
rit, in pure obedience to God's command, to attempt some 
holy adventures upon the word ; and passeth by all con- 
siderations of flesh and blood, as deaf and blind to all things 
but what the word speaketh. It is resolved to take (if I may 
so speak) a senseless journey to Christ, even upon the sea ; 
for it is contented to feel no ground but the promise. It 
stays not to inquire, whether it had strength enough to walk 
or not ; but looks on the word of truth, and considers its need, 
and so ventures ; and by venturing engageth all the attri- 
butes of Jehovah, Father, Son, and Spirit, for its relief. Its 
language is, " If I perish, I perish : " and the faithful and 
true Witness hath said, " Fear not, only believe.'' 

Faith possesses the Understanding, Judgment, and Will, 
and puts them to exercise. 

Faith, so far as it works, persuades the heart of the truth, 
power, wisdom, and goodness of God that speaketh, and of 
the sure performance of the thing spoken ; and is singly of 
itself, through the overshadowing of the Holy Spirit, a prin- 
ciple of appropriating to the heart the truths spoken from 



A BANCTUABY. '.»•> 

the mouth of an infinitely true, holy, and wise God in hia 
word; and bo fixeth a blessed satisfaction in the heart, 
through the real existence of the things spoken, and appre- 
hended by the renewed understanding, bo Car at least as they 
are, by an actual exercise of faith, apprehended* u Blessed 
is she who believed, for there shall be a performance of the 
things told her from the Lord." Luke i. 45. 

The Understanding exercised. 

The understanding being renewed, surveys the covenant, 
as it was made with Christ before all time ; 1 and considers 
what method God has used, to manifest it in the world. I Ie 
created the habitable world, and made man at first righteous, 
and then permitted him to fall into the breach of the first 
covenant, namely, of works ; whereby he gave entrance and 
footing to the second covenant, namely, of grace ; 2 and car- 
ried it along in a holy line, through the corrupt race of man- 
kind before the flood. He then sweeps away the ungodly 
world, and preserves the covenant-line in Noah ; and from 
him, carries it on to Abraham, and keeps it on in its course, 
amidst much profaneness and idolatry that was in the w r orld. 
He then renews it more distinctly with Abraham, and gives 
it a more visible being than ever before that time ; and, by 
reason thereof, calls Abraham the father of the faithful. He 
confirms it also to Isaac and Jacob, who are oftentimes men- 
tioned in the scriptures, as the three grand witnesses of this 
covenant-favor. From thence it descends to the twelve 
tribes, representing the elect visible church. After which, it 
is brought forth in a typical representation of Christ, and of 
his managing all things needful to make that covenant appli- 
cable ; which is carried on under the shadows of the cere- 
monial law. The prophets succeed, asserting this covenant 
of grace, and expounding it. At last comes Christ in the 
flesh, and seals it with his blood ; and the apostles are sent 
forth, to discover and preach this eternal purpose of grace 
to the wide world, for calling in the elect. So that the cove- 
nant of grace, which was made of God in Christ before the 
creation of the world, appears to be the main scope of the 
scriptures; and issues forth its virtue through all the pro- 
raises, fatherly commands, reproofs^ consolations, and de- 

1 Tit. 1: 2. 2 Gon. 3: 15. 



96 HOW TO FIND GOD 

liverances which are recorded in scripture ; as the various 
streams, operations, experiences, and effects of the covenant 
of grace, in and towards the heirs of life. It bare the name 
of the old covenant, during the time the passover was in 
use ; and after the Lord's Supper was instituted, it was 
called the new covenant ; both old and new are one cove- 
nant of grace, differing from the covenant of works as far as 
grace and works do differ. 

The Exercised Judgment. 

The understanding having perused the scriptures ; and so 
taken its view, and deliberated the matter, digesting it by 
meditation and prayer ; the judgment resolves to make cove- 
nant-refuge its sanctuary ; and thereupon, forbids the heart 
to admit the contradictions of flesh and blood, and the 
reasonings of carnal wisdom and observation : it resolves to 
determine nothing according to the flesh ; endeavors to shut 
up all passages, by which unbelief, carnal mis-construction 
and fear were used to enter ; and labors to keep open every 
port that may admit the naked recourse, the single access of 
the Spirit in the word, and opens the windows of the soul, 
to take in the testimony and evidence of a faithful and mer- 
ciful God only. 

And when this mighty discovery and conquest is made, 
the foundations of bondage, terror, and tyranny, which be- 
fore tormented the conscience, and enslaved the heart, do 
now begin to totter. 

The Will Assents. 

The understanding and judgment, having gone thus, are 
under the conduct of the Spirit, do attempt effectually to 
persuade the will to accept a new Lord, namely, the Mes- 
senger and Prince of the covenant ; him " in whom all the 
promises are yea and amen." Sanctified conviction begins 
to sway the will, as Nathanael was moved by Philip to come 
and see him of whom Moses and the Prophets did write ; 
and assures the conscience that God is ever mindful of his 
covenant, has sealed it with the blood of his own Son, and 
has sworn that it shall stand sure as the ordinances of hea- 
ven, and that not a tittle of it shall ever fail ; to which the 
will assents. 

But, alas ! how doth my pen gash (as it were) my own- 



A BANCTUABY. 97 

soul, in writing what I cannot heartily, and at full liberty, put 
in practice! () thai my understanding and judgmenl had 
thus Ear (in a powerful gale of the Spirit) led my soul forth 
to the gates of freedom, and thus far brought me within the 
bond of the covenant! How soon would the Bame mighty 
power conquer and bring over my will to a holy security and 
rest in believing ! 

My Soul in a Tempest. 

I am (methinks) like Jonah, in the bottom of the sea ; 
the bars of an earthly and dark mind are -topping my way, 
and I seem to myself as lifeless, as if 1 had no interest in 
the fountain of saving health : the weeds are wrapped about 
my head. I am in the deep, but cannot cry unto the Lord, 
as Jonah did. 1 

And what the Lord is teaching me by this unexpected 
disappointment, I cannot yet tell ; I have, notwithstanding, 
hope in him, that I shall yet be rescued from this captivity, 
and see his face again. 

I had been searching after all my sins, through the several 
ages of my life, and endeavoring to view the depravity of 
my soul in all the sinful circumstances of every sin ; but 
could not wind myself out. My design was to get thereby to a 
more sincere closure with Christ ; but, ere I w T as aware, I 
had challenged forth more enemies than I could well sup- 
press. I thought, by aggravating my sins, to have got more 
hunger after Jesus Christ, but, (like over-much cold w T ater) 
it damped my stomach, and I found sickness seizing upon 
me rather than hunger ; a heartless stupidity instead of be- 
lieving. I concluded I was (in some kind or other) out of 
my w r ay ; or else had not prepared my stomach to keep out 
the infection that exhaled from that body of death which is 
within me, as I should have done, while I was moving the 
limbs thereof. The thing I aimed at was quickening : then 
I remembered that word, " Why seek ye the living among 
the dead? "2 which seemed to suggest this seasonable ad- 
vice, Come not amongst the graves without his company who 
died for sins, and is risen from the dead. I could not be 
satisfied about the sincerity of my repentance, and there I 
stuck; till, at length, I remembered that Christ rose again, 
as well to give repentance as remission of sins. 3 So that I 

Jonah 2: 4—6. 2 Luke 24: 5. a Acts 5: 31. 11: IS. 



98 HOW TO FIND GOD 

can bring no repentance to him, but I must first get it from 
him : he is also exalted to be " a Prince and a Saviour" in 
giving this repentance : a Saviour to take away all the de- 
fects of my repentance ; a Prince to overcome all the diffi- 
culties, and to create in me a sound mind against the infirmi- 
ties of my repentance, and my halting therein. Take, then, 
O mighty " Prince and Saviour," this work into thine own 
hands, and " create a right spirit within me." 

My Soul returning to its Strong Hold. 

So that now my gadding spirit is brought back again, to 
see that Christ is the Alpha and Omega, the author and 
finisher of whatever doth concern the new creature. And 
yet, although he be so, how hard is it to venture my soul and 
body, my whole hope and care into his hands, by faith in his 
word ! I had need know such a one very well with whom I 
am to venture myself through a warfaring life here, and 
shortly through death and judgment too, and so into the 
ocean of eternity. O, dear Jesus, who art my Lord and my 
God, who canst renew my heart, (and none else can do it), 
breathe upon me, and say, "Receive the Holy Ghost." Cast 
thy mantle upon me, and let the unction of thy Spirit be so 
shed abroad throughout my whole soul, that my heart may 
be entirely thine, thine only, that thyself only may be the 
covering of my eyes, instead of all other objects. 1 

The Soul first Improves Baptism. 

And now what should hinder, but that, at length, I should 
solemnly, in the presence of God, the Father, Son, and Spi- 
rit, and in the presence of all the elect angels, pursue the 
ends of that covenant which was sealed, by Christ's appoint- 
ment, to me in baptism ; through whose hands soever that 
ordinance was appointed or permitted to pass upon me. Was 
not that still a divine prophecy which even a Balaam spake, 
Numb. xxiv. 17. " There shall come a star out of Jacob," 
etc. ? O, did it alter its nature or lose its value by passing 
through his mouth ? And can the ordinance of Christ be 
made void, through whose hands soever it came, and in what 
unworthy robe soever it was dressed ? Did the sacred ark 
lose its virtue by being in the Philistine's custody ? Did he 

1 Gen. 20: 16. 



A BANCTUABT. 99 

forsake it who dwelt between the cherubims? Was the 
mercy-seal deserted, and become like common metal ? Why 
then should this ordinance be lost to me, in the substance of 
it, though (it may be) some human scurf was laid upon its 

surface? And have I not reason to hope (through cove- 
nant-grace) that the faith and prayers of my dear parents, 

then and since, are more in force for a blessing upon it to 
me, than the defects of others, in the manner of administra- 
tion, can have to hinder it ? especially as I am myself now 
desirous humbly to take hold of the covenant, and with my 
own consent to say, " I agree to the condescension of thy 
grace and love, my dear Lord ; I take hold on thy free love, 
and into thy name, O most holy God, (Father, Son, and 
Spirit) I give myself up through him who confirmed the 
covenant, and came by water and blood to make it effectual. 
" Lord, I believe, help thou my unbelief." I reach out my 
hand through thy grace, let thy grace and power pull me 
over to thyself, that in the ark of thy unchangeable covenant 
I may be carried above myself, and above a miserably 
drowned world. Be not absent, O Thou, who in thy mercy 
didst make and impose this seal of the covenant, as the badge 
of one of thy family, for me to wear ; who also speakest 
words of truth and life, when thou sayest, " I baptize thee 
in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost ; " 
fulfil thy good word unto me thy servant, in which I desire 
to hope, that thou mayest be mine, and I may be thine wholly 
forever ; that I may serve thee, and glory in thee, with all 
thy people, who are thine own inheritance." 

Struggles with Unbelief. 

I Do not bang back, O my poor heart, whose weakness and 
inconstancy have so often bruised my inward man. O anxious 
unbelief, thou tellest me, it is a bargain soon made ; but how 
shall it be performed? Thou urgest me with difficulties that 
will arise from the world, from myself, from the trials that I 
may undergo in my body, my soul, my estate; unwonted 
trials. Thou tellest me of the great fits of darkness, and 
shameful declinings I have had, after much refreshment, and 
strong resolutions to the contrary. Thou tellest me, that my 
falls will now cost me dearer than ever they did, and the 
Holy Spirit will be sooner vexed and grieved than before. 
Thou tellest me, I shall soon be weary of my yoke, and then 



100 HOW TO FIND GOD 

my sins will be of a deeper and more heart-hardening dye 
than ever. But remember, O soul-destroying unbelief, I roll 
myself upon the Rock of ages, I deliver myself up to the 
covenant of grace ; not to bring strength to it, but to fetch 
strength from it, and from that word, which saith, " Sin shall 
not have dominion over you ; for you are not under the law, 
but under grace : " 1 and because I am weak, therefore I go 
to everlasting strength. The more I make infinite power 
my lord and master, the more is that divine power engaged 
to hold me up. 2 Let my own power languish into nothing, 
so long as I can claim (on the account of free grace) un- 
doubted right to the arm of God. My own strength never 
did me good, but deceived me. Dost thou not know, O mis- 
giving heart, that I am shortly to leave the whole weight of 
my soul (in launching from mortality) upon the same word 
of promise which doth now offer strength to carry me through 
the difficulties of my present warfare ; and what do I more 
than step forth to behold the Lord sealing his covenant and 
promise, that he will be my God, and will guide me by his 
grace, and afterwards bring me to glory ? " To which cove- 
nant, in faith, though " with fear and trembling," I desire to 
give my consent ; which (I trust) in some measure of sin- 
cerity, I have done. 

Neither do thou, Satan, vaunt, and say to me, as Eliab 
said to David, " I know the pride of thy heart. 3 I shall yet 
bring thee down." Know, O thou false accuser, I go to him, 
who is both able to hold me up, and make me humble too, 
that I may be more and more abased, and die away from the 
workings and lustings of flesh and blood, into the power, 
grace, wisdom and truth of God ; to whose covenant, for that 
end, by his own appointment, I declare my consent ; and do 
desire, with a broken and bleeding heart, to bless him, that 
ever he allowed me to come so near to him in this manner. 
Though I fall, I shall not fall utterly, I shall be raised up 
again, because my Redeemer is risen ; and he is strong who 
pleads my cause. 

What is the volume of the Scriptures, but a divine econo- 
my, containing the laws of relation betwixt a God of all 
grace and his chosen ; institutions and commands of grace, 
threatenings and reproofs of grace, promises and betrothings 
of grace, and mere grace ? Has not the same God, who 

l Kom. 6: 14. 2 Rom. 14: 4. 3 1 Sam. 17: 28. 



A SANCTUARY. 101 

said, u T will betroth thee to me forever in righteousness and 
judgment, in loving-kindness and mercies, and in faithfulness," 

said also to me, k ' Thou shalt know the Lord?" 1 lias he 
not said to me, "Thy Maker (Father, Son, and Spirit) is thy 
Husband,"" 2 even while I am grieved in spirit, and tossed 
about with the tempest of my own confusions? And has he 
not said, that I shall say, " The Lord is my God ? "3 And 
he will say, " Thou art one of my people," 4 and will not be 
ashamed to be called my God ? 5 Yea, hath he not declared 
that I shall say, I am the Lord's ; and that I shall bear his 
name and surname with his Jacob and his Israel ; and that 
I shall even subscribe it with my hand, 6 never to be re- 
versed ? O Fountain of life and living waters, reveal thy- 
self, that I may not go about to marry flesh and spirit 
together ; but that I may be spirited as a chaste virgin es- 
poused to Christ, and so enter into this glorious, spiritual, 
flesh-mortifying, and mystical wedlock. Let it not be merely 
speculative, but real ; and influenced with light, life, and 
power, from thy heart to mine. 

Oh how doth this unwilling heart of mine hold back ! 
What canst thou close with, besides God in Christ, but it 
will perish ; and while it is in thy hand, will be a broken 
reed, that will make thee fall in leaning upon it ? Is not the 
covenant of grace somewhat which God himself hath de- 
vised for his own glory, and thy establishment ? Has he re- 
quired thee to bind thyself to fear and love him ; and hath 
not he engaged to circumcise thy heart, that thou mayest 
love and fear him ? Deut. xxx. 6 ; Jer. xxxii. 40 ; Ezek. 
xi. 19, 20. 

O that I could put faith to this word, till the warmth 
thereof grew up into a flame, which many waters might 
never quench ! And O let my faithful God, who has 
expressly promised by covenant, to give me one heart and 
one way, (with the rest of them who are confederates of 
grace,) that I may fear him forever for my good, remember 
it, and fulfil it (as he hath said) with all his heart, and all 
his soul. 7 O pardon my unbelief, that I do stand so far 
aloof from putting it to my soul, that God, who cannot lie, 
will accomplish his word to a tittle. 



1 Hos. 2: 19, 20- a Isa. 54: 5. 8 Zech. 13: 9. 

* Hos. 2: 28. 5 Hcb. 11: 16. G Isa. 44: 5. 

7 Jer. 32: 39^41 



102 HOW TO FIND GOB 



The Soul longs for Clear Work. 

My soul longs to be at some more distinct and express 
closure with such a God, and would fain reckon beforehand 
what it will cost me. TVhen I consider that word, " Know 
ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost, 
which is in you, and that you are not your own ? for you 
are bought with a price : therefore glorify God in your body 
and in your spirit, which are God's." l I even faint under 
the majesty of such a covenant of unutterable grace, which 
calls me up to such dignity and duty at once. Body and 
spirit, which are God's, what a word is this ! You are not 
your own. How far does this reach ! The whole concern- 
ment of my soul and body, which are my own, are to be 
given up to God by faith and new obedience, that they may 
be his, and at my own disposal no longer. Oh, a thousand 
worlds for a surrender suitable to this estate and high calling 
of God in Jesus Christ ! Oh, let the Creator of Israel, my 
King, fashion the value of this pearl in every affection of 
my soul, that I may (in his own meaning) sell all to purchase 
it ! Christ Jesus was in earnest when he gave his body to 
the cross, and his very soul an offering for my sake : O that 
I could be in a like seriousness, in giving away my body 
and soul to him again ! Strengthen, O Lord, my weak 
hands, and confirm my feeble knees. 



The Soul is invited by Clrrist. 

Methinks I hear the voice of my beloved Jesus calling 
out, " Fear not, O anxious soul, behold it is I, be not afraid ; 
I, who am thy Redeemer, am strong ; I am mighty to save : 
and therefore, hearken, O daughter, and consider ; incline 
thine ear ; forget also thy father's house, and thine own 
people : let me be the object of all thy affections, rest in my 
pleasure only and always ; so will I, thy King and Husband, 
greatly desire thy beauty, and be always trimming thee for 
my own society, for I am thy Lord ; and thou must worship, 
and fully rest in, and be devoted to me alone, and to no 
other." 

1 1 Cor. G: 19, 20. 



I SANCTUABY. LOI 



And doth Consent and Engctg 

I consent, dour Christ : and here I offer my body and soul 
to the agreement ; I give them up, dear and gracious Re- 
deemer, I give them up unto thee forever. In olx dience to 
thy commands, and relying upon thy strength, I write it with 
my own hand, that I will be thine, and for thee, and not for 
any other; my Beloved is mine, and I am his. Though I 
am very black, and very polluted, through my natural pollu- 
tion and daily infirmity ; yet, through the savor of thy oint- 
ments, O precious, ever-living, ever-interceding Christ, let 
me now be a sweet savor in thy nostrils, and pleasant in thy 
sight, and in the sight of thy and my Father; and let me be 
breathed upon, day and night, by the Spirit of the Father 
and the Son, that I may now go about thy work with joy, and 
be led forth by tliee with peace, and renewed testimonies of 
thy help and presence. Let the mountains and hills break 
forth before me into singing, and all the trees of the field 
clap their hands for joy. Glory be to God on high, on earth 
peace, because the good-will of God has stooped to such a 
worm as I. Instead of the thorn, now let there be a fir-tree ; 
instead of the brier, a myrtle-tree ; let righteousness and 
conformity to thy will prosper in my soul, as an everlasting 
sign of this covenant, that it shall never be cut off, nor 
broken. 

What am I, O Lord of heaven and earth, that thou 
hast brought me hitherto ? Stablish thy covenant to 
thy servant, as the sure mercies of David, forever. And 
seeing I do now rest in this blessed covenant, (leaning upon 
thee, my dearly beloved) let me never nourish halting in- 
quiries from the time of these sacred vows to the mosl high 
God. Let me never devour and destroy this sacred bond ; 
and so turn this present and holy design, and inviolable tie, 
into a snare. Take this burden upon thy shoulders, O Rock 
of ages ; and let this covenant and my personal infirmity 
also be perpetually before thy eyes, to make good thy cove- 
nant upon all occasions ; and let thine everlasting arms be 
always under me, to keep my feet from falling. 

To this covenant with my God, and to these my supplica- 
tions, confessions, and vows, in the name of Him who hath 
called me into this liberty, through the blood of the Media- 
tor and my dear Redeemer, which I declare to be my act and 



104 HOW TO FIND GOD 

deed, through his grace, never to be reversed, and that it 
may stand as a mount and sure witness all the days of my 
life, that I have at this time, and this evening, solemnly, and 
with a sincere aim and full purpose of heart, unfeigned con- 
sent, and joyful satisfaction, laid hold on the covenant of 
grace as my own interest, relying on my Mediator's help and 
strength to see it all performed; both on behalf of my God 
and me ; and in whose hand I leave it, who knows the mean- 
ing of his own Spirit. To this covenant I say, (namely, the 
whole substance thereof, and all the expostulations and de- 
sires concerning the same) with some faith in, fear of, love 
to, and hope towards Him, who alone worketh in me, to will 
and to do according to his good pleasure : according to that 
measure which I have received, with a trembling joy, I con- 
sent, and do cast myself into his arms, and subscribe it with 
my own hand, never to be revoked. 

HENRY DORNEY. 



The Soul Explains its Engagement. 

And seeing this is the accepted time in which God hath 
heard me, and a day of salvation in which he hath succored 
me, I would yet further put on the bond of this glorious free- 
dom as my robe forever ; and declare, that as my God has 
often repeated the substance of his gracious covenant, some- 
times in reference to the time to come ; 1 sometimes in re- 
ference to the time present; 2 sometimes speaking of his 
people ; 3 and sometimes speaking to his people ; 4 in all 
which he appears as one setting forth his unlimited purpose 
of good things, witli variety of illustration, and ground of as- 
surance to all his confederate people, leading them forth to a 
plentiful way of rightful and abundant application thereof to 
themselves, and for their use in all cases forever ; I do also 
declare, that my scope and sense in this my covenanting with 
God is, that, through his strengh, I will disown all rebellings 
and repinings against his threatening?, reproofs, and chas- 
tisements ; and that I will disown the stifling of any of my 
convictions, because they are all of them dispensations of his 
grace, and means whereby to partake more and more of his 
holiness. 5 My scope and sense also further is, that my heart 

1 Ezek. 11:20. 36:38. 2 Isa. 43: 3, 5. Ezek. 34: 31. 

s Jer. 24: 7. 4 Jer. 30: 22. 5 Heb. 12: 5—10. 



A BANCTUABY. i (>: > 

shall lie open to all the commands of nay God, and thai 1 will 
own them as my heritage forever, taking them to 1m i my joy, 
and delight, and love, whatever they require; 1 and that be- 
cause they are bis good pleasure, and because I account his 

rebukes of all sorts, and commands of all sorts, to be the 

representations and beams of his righteousness and holiness ;' 2 

and the very rays also of the covenant of his grace. 8 

Here is more work for thee, my blessed Surety. It is 

thy grace alone that can uphold me in all parts of my duty, 
and perfect that which concerneth me. I ground my pro- 
mise upon thine. 4 I had not dared to have promised these 
things, if thy word had not first assured me, that thou wilt 
do all thy works in me and for me. 5 Put on strength then, 
O arm of the Lord ; let not thy name be polluted, and my 
boasting in thee turn to thy reproach. Remember, thou art 
all my strength and life. For this end I would multiply all 
the commands of God in my eye, that under my impossibility 
of performance (through that contradiction and infirmity 
that is in my flesh) I might be swayed and carried by the 
Spirit of faith into the perfection of strength, and be able to 
do all things in Christ who strengthened me, and answereth 
for me. Of all the thousands of God's commands he never 
required me to do one with my own arm, as the obedience 
in which he delights ; but that I should act in strength every 
moment received from Christ, and so work my works in God 6 
all the days of my life. Reveal to thy covenant-servant, O 
Lord, that strength which thou allowest me, that I may know 
where it lies, and how to derive it to myself for thy work and 
service, according to the scope of this covenant, which, at 
thy gracious call, I offer up myself unto. How dost thou 
necessitate me to thy yoke, and allure me by a gracious vio- 
lence to delight in having my hands and heart tied with the 
heart-strings of thy love to thyself, in this golden covenant, 
inextricably, and forever ! Take me, O dearly beloved of 
my soul, nearer and nearer to thyself, till all the shadows be 
gone ; that then I may behold thy face, and be satisfied with 

thy image. 

Oh, how soon am I now diverted from a pure and dihgenl 
watchfulness ! how many precious minutes slide away from 

i Psalm 119: 6. 97, ill. ■ Psalm 119: 75 Jer. 12: l. 

« Kev. 3. 19. Psalm 119: 75. 4 Isa. 41: 10. Joel 3: 16. 

5 Isa. 26: 12. Psalm 57: 2. lThess.5:24, Phil. 2: 13. * John 3: 21, 



106 HOW TO FIND GOD 

me ! Sometimes food is my snare ; and sometimes absti- 
nence is so too ; sometimes society, and sometimes retire- 
ment puts me behind-hand : all my composedness is soon 
discomposed. Let thy eye be upon me, O my God, accord- 
ing tothy word, and water me every moment, lest anything 
assault and hurt my soul which thou hast redeemed. 1 And 
quicken my faith and hope in thy word for this. 

Many a wretched stop do I meet with ; pardon me, O my 
Lord and my God, and renew a spirit of truth, tenderness, 
sincerity, and rightly-seasoned heart for the work I am now 
upon. 

My scope and meaning in giving my hand, and closing 
with this covenant of my God, is further this, namely : That 
through his help, I will ascribe truth to all the words of his 
promises, by believing them, and receiving them, as that 
which shall be accomplished ; that I will labor to keep the 
majesty of the promiser in my eye, and to preserve the faith 
and hope of his fulfilling his word, upon the account of his 
unsearchable wisdom and faithfulness, and not by my uncer- 
tain taste ; that no guilt of sin shall keep me from the foun- 
tain wherein sinners are to be cleansed ; that I will, through 
the guidance of his Spirit, aspire after a more practical and 
accustomed exercise in living the life that I live by the faith 
of the Son of God ; and resting from my own works, reach 
after that self-denying activity which issues from my union 
with Christ as my head. O my Lord, mould my heart into 
this life : This is the very pearl that I would willingly sell 
all to get. What a lovely comportment would it settle be- 
tween the actions of my outward and inward man ! How 
would it teach my soul to rule my body ! How willingly 
would my soul and body then be contradicted, and take plea- 
sure to be thwarted by the Spirit of Christ, when the crown 
is settled on the head of the new creature, and the sceptre of 
government in its hand, acting as in the throne of Christ, in 
the vircue of his pure life, and glorious arm, and every 
imagination of the heart bowing down before it ! Oh, when 
shall my inward man be thus clothed with glory and power ; 
looking forth through all my senses as the morning, fair as the 
moon, and terrible as an army with banners ? This gate of 
heaven I would aspire towards, through that means of vic- 
tory which overcometh the world, the Devil, and an earthly 

5 Isa. 27: 3. 



A SANCTUARY. 107 

mind; even through the faith of the Son of God. This is 
that which I have in niy eye, although it he as a land that is 
afar off. 1 faint with desire ; May m<\ and strengthen me 
with the flagons of hope, O Then who ha: t suffered me to 

toueh the Bkirt of thy garment, and brought me within the 
covenant of thy grace. 

When I consider the sovereignty of God, that he doth 
whatsoever he will in heaven and earth ; that sometimes he 
has deserted his people as to powerful communications of 
grace ; as it was with David, Peter, and others, in the time 
of their sinful backslidings. When I consider these things, 
I begin to stagger about the immutability of his purpose, 
and that uninterrupted good-will which he declares in the 
covenant, where he saith, " I will not turn away from them 
to do them good ; and I will put my fear in their hearts, that 
they shall not depart from me." l And, therefore, to guard 
against this heart-sinking mistake, I resolve to nourish the 
faith of his constant, unfailing love and good-will in his 
covenant, upon the following grounds : That his nature is un- 
changeable ; for God is not a man that He should lie, neither 
the son of man that He should repent ; 2 that nothing can 
come to pass but what is the effect of his purpose ; 3 that his 
covenant is everlasting, and his purpose of love therein the 
same forever ; 4 that his purpose to them whom he calls up 
to take hold of his covenant is wholly a purpose of love and 
grace ; 5 that he complains when a doubting heart makes 
question of it ; 6 that it has been confirmed by the death of 
the testator ; that the cause of alienation, namely, the guilt of 
my sin, is removed by the one complete offering of the body 
of Christ; 7 that Christ ever lives to intercede, and is always 
heard ; because the will of the Father and Son is the same 
will, breathing itself forth to the objects of grace by the 
everlasting Spirit, and therefore when I seem to be forsaken, 
I resolve to believe, that such desertion is only physic, and 
to inquire what it is that God is teaching me thereby ; that 
so I may see ground, as satisfy ingly to thank him for the 
gracious frowns of his unchangeable love, as for his gracious 
smiles ; and to take the advantage of that season to implore 
his aid more importunately to loathe my sinful self; and to 

i Jcr. 32: 40. " Num. 23: 10. 3 Acts 4: 28. 

4 Jer. 31: 35, 36. 32: 40, 41. 5 2 Tim. 1: 9. 

6 Isa. 40: 27. 40: 14, 15. • Heb. 10: 14, 18. 



108 HOW TO FIND GOD 

revive afresh more pure self-denying exercises of believing 
and resigning to him ; fearing his righteous judgments, and 
patiently waiting for the time when the Spirit, whom I have 
grieved, will return again with the manifestation of his gra- 
cious presence to my soul. 

In all these considerations, resolutions, and desires, in my 
covenanting with God, my meaning further is, that I accept 
of Jesus Christ, as he is the gift of God, to be the whole 
covenant to me, to work faith, and give the things believed ; 
to work desires, and give the things desired ; to act for me, 
and in me, that the covenant may never fail from me, on ac- 
count of my sins and miscarriages ; because he has satisfied 
justice in my stead, and brought me into his everlasting 
righteousness ; nor can I fail from the covenant through un- 
belief, and a languishing view of my own infirmity ; because 
he is my strength to labor, the author and finisher of my 
faith ; who gave himself to sanctify me by the Spirit of re- 
generation, hi the application of his word to me for quicken- 
ing ; that so Christ may be all in all, to fulfil the engage- 
ment of God to me, and my engagement in his name to God. 
And seeing that breaches are like to fall out often on my 
part, I accept of him with reliance, that he will stand in the 
gap, that those breaches may not obstruct the good-will and 
mercy of God from me, nor harden my heart from him : that 
so the grace of the covenant on God's part in Christ towards 
me, and on Christ's part for me towards God, may remain, in 
the eye of my faith, inviolable, when the peace of the cove- 
nant (through sinful devastations and darkness) is interrupt- 
ed and bruised. And that he will still recover me again into 
a renewed personal covenanting with God, that in his person 
I may behold eternal and sure mercies, as the sun in the 
firmament, as the days of eternity. 1 And that by his media- 
tion and suretyship, applied to me by the effectual working 
of the Spirit, I may in my own person be drawn under his 
shadow, to recover my hold-fast, and have my face set to- 
wards the covenant. And that he will still lead me again 
and again with weeping and supplications to God in him as 
my resting-place ; and that he will cause this glorious word 
to ring as an alarm in my ears, " Return unto me, for I am 
married unto thee : I will heal thy backslidings. 2 I will be, 
and am, thy King: Where is any other that can comfort 

1 P>alm 89: 29. 2 -Tor. .1: 14. 22. 



A SANCTTARV. 109 

thee, or save thee in all thy wanderings ? ,,J And thai he 
will cause my bowels to be moved at the voice, and to give 
answer, "It is the voice of my beloved. Behold,] come 
unto thee, for thou art the Lord my God.* 1 

The Soul enters into more ample and express Covenant with 

God. 

And that I may now sum up the matter of this my cove- 
nant which God has called me to make, and which, in < 
dience, to Ins call, I do heartily resolve in his strength to ad- 
here unto; guard my heart, guard my pen. guard my voice 
and words, O thou who leadest the blind to thyself by a way 
which nature knows not ; but thou knowest thy own way, 
and knowest how to lead the thoughts of my heart, and 
words of my pen, and my mouth, that my lips may utter 
nothing rashly before thee. Thou hast made a covenant of 
grace, and often repeated the terms of the covenant ; and 
hast said, I shall say, " The Lord is my God ; " 3 and hast 
recorded the mutual avouching between thee and thy people, 
in express words. 4 Yea, strangers are invited " to serve 
thee, to love thy name, to be thy servants, and to lay hold on 
thy covenant, to join themselves to thee, and to observe thy 
sabbaths and ordinances of worship. 5 And when thy people 
did " enter into a covenant to seek the Lord God of their 
fathers with all their heart, and with all their soul, and swear 
to thee with a loud voice, and rejoiced at the oath, as having 
sought thee with their whole desire, thou wast found of 
them." 6 And in this way have thy servants appropriated 
thee to themselves '; 7 and appropriated themselves to thee. 
And thou hast said, u These things are written lor my learn- 
ing." 8 and that I am to imitate and follow them who through 
faith and patience did inherit the promises : " 9 -giving myself 
to thee, 10 with full purpose of heart." 11 Having this warrant 
and encouragement, I do here bring my body and soul, and 
all that I have and am to thee a a first fruit offering, and 
claim, in return, a right to thyself, through thy free grace, 
being invited and authorized so to do. 12 

1 ITos. 13: 10. 2 Cant 2: 8. Jer. 3: 22. 3 Hos. 2 

4 Dent. 2G: 17, 18. 5 Isa. 56: 6, 7. G 2 Chron. 15: 12. 14. 15. 

' Psalm 105: 7, 8. 11G: 16—18. Isa. 63: 1G, 19. 8 Rom. 15: 4. 

9 Heb. 6: 12. l0 2 Cor. 8: 5. » Acta 11: 23. 

» Jer. 3: 4, 19. Ho3. 2: 23. 



110 HOW TO FIND GOD 



The Soul makes Confession of its Faith. 

I do declare in thy presence, O most righteous, holy and 
gracious God, that (as thou hast declared in thy word) I do 
acknowledge I am one of the posterity of the first Adam, 
and was in his loins both when thou madest him pure, bear- 
ing the image of righteousness and holiness ; and when he 
transgressed thy righteous command, by eating the fruit 
which thou hast forbidden him to eat ; and that I stand be- 
fore thee guilty of the sin which he then committed, in all 
the extent, circumstances, and aggravations thereof; and that 
I am thereby become rightful heir to all that sinful pollution 
which by him entered in upon ail mankind ; and rightful 
heir also to all that curse and punishment which thou de- 
nouncedst upon him, when thou saidst, " In the day wherein 
thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die ; " and that I am by 
this my nature and descent liable to thy righteous sentence 
of death and wrath eternally : that I did in that day lose thy 
favor, and incurred the accursed effects of that loss to my 
soul, relating both to my temporal and eternal state. 

I do acknowledge that of thy free grace, and that alone, 
thou didst speedily make promise of a Redeemer, which 
should arise of the seed of the woman, and be manifested in 
the flesh ; which accordingly thou didst perform, by sending 
thine only Son into the world, having a body framed by the 
power of the Holy Spirit in the womb of a virgin ; and who 
was born free from all that hereditary corruption which the 
first parents of mankind did transmit to their posterity by 
natural propagation ; who, by his voluntary obedience, ful- 
filled thy whole law, and, by his death, did bear the whole 
curse and punishment due to me and all elected mankind, in 
the body of his flesh ; and that being thine eternal Son, the 
express image of thy person, and God blessed forever, he 
did fully pay the debt, and remove the curse and deserved 
punishment from so many as thou hadst in thy eternal pur- 
pose given him to be a ransom for, and superabundantly re- 
covered thy image and favor to them again ; and that, being 
truly dead, he raised himself by his own divine power, and 
is ascended into the highest heavens, where he sitteth on the 
right hand of the Majesty on high ; appearing always in thy 
presence as Mediator, consisting of the two natures of God 
and man in one person ; continually interceding before thee 



A SAN< l I LBT. 1 i 1 

on the behalf of those whom he redeemed, and making the 
ends and virtue of his mediatorship effectual for their good, 
and od their behalf. 

That he bath brought this State of life and salvation to 

light by the gospel, contained in the hooks of the Old and 
New Testament, and effectually dispensed the same under 
dark types and prophecies until his incarnation ; Bince which 
time he hath mightily declared himself by his word and 
works; the Father also from heaven, and the Holy Spirit 
testifying of him, that he is the Saviour of the world, and 
that believing in him, " they who believe shall have lii'e 
through his name." 

That he has declared by chosen witnesses, who conversed 
with him, and saw his miracles, that he is the eternal God, 
and also true human nature, in one glorious person ; and has 
appointed them to testify, that he is the Judge of quick and 
dead; and that whosoever belie veth in him shall receive 
remission of sins, and be justified from all conscience of 
guilt ; and interested in a more abundant righteousness, life, 
and happiness, than was lost before ; that he sendeth forth 
his Spirit to breathe a new life by faith through the dispen- 
sation of this gospel ; whereby he gathers all the elect into 
a mystical, true, spiritual union with himself, who is the door 
of their communion with God, and of his communion with 
them ; and, having in himself the terms and parts of the 
covenant relating to each party, he has so united them to- 
gether in a covenant-bond, that the most righteous God 
reaches them his hand, and proclaims himself theirs, and 
they reach forth their hands by faith and resignation, and de- 
clare they are wholly his. By which covenant-union they 
are partakers of God, and all communicable good things in 
him; and are spirited to give up themselves, and all that 
they have and are, to his disposal in newness of life ; and 
have freedom to come to the Mediator ibr teaching, strength 
and purging, through the means appointed by him ibr that 
end, as their daily necessity and weakness doth require, for 
carrying on the true scope, and to answer the true end of 
their covenant relation to God while they live on earth ; and, 
through the resurrection of Christ, have an assured pledge 
of safe convoy through the grave, to an eternal and visible 
fellowship with him, and unutterable enjoyment of com- 
munion with the Father, Son, and Spirit; being perfe< 
forever, suitably to such a state, both in body and in soul. 



112 HOW TO FIND "GOD 

A Solemn Covenant with God in the Name of Christ. 

Now, according to this confession and acknowledgment, 
grounded upon thy own word, breathed by thy Spirit, and 
experienced by all thychosen people, according to the meas- 
ure of thy revelation, and spiritual application thereof, I 
throw myself down before thee, O most holy, righteous, all- 
powerful, and gracious God ; I cast myself before thee as a 
poor Syrian ready to perish, without any strength at all to 
extricate myself from the guilt of sin, and its deserved pun- 
ishment. I once lost thee quite, and had been lost from thee 
forever, if thy naked arm had not brought thy salvation near, 
and opened my ear to hear it : and now I do here declare 
before thee, and before thy holy angels, that I do accept it, 
and give up myself and all that is mine to comply with the 
design of my restoration, which thy gracious wisdom has 
found out. I do accept of Jesus Christ thy Son, to be my 
wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption : I do 
accept of him to be my only access to thy favorable pre- 
sence, and to enable me to walk acceptably before thee. I 
close with thy appointment for laying my sins and all my 
guiltiness upon him ; and do profess, through thy grace, that 
I will not hazard thy displeasure by covering my guilt, or 
bearing it myself, by unbelief cherished within me. In him 
I do accept of thy glorious self to be my God, and all the 
attributes of thy glorious nature to be my portion, and all 
ready for my relief and advantage. I do accept of the 
sanctifying virtue of thy Spirit, and am grieved that I have 
so often vexed and grieved him by disobedience and unbe 
lief. I do own and take to myself thy free and unchange- 
able love in Christ. I doreceive the whole scriptures, and 
acknowledge them to be thy express will ; and all thy gra- 
cious commands, threatenings, and promises, to be in all 
things most right ; and to be the issues of thy wisdom, holi- 
ness, goodness, and truth, for my instruction, purging, com- 
fort, and establishment in all cases, all the days of my life ; 
which I engage, in thy strength, to adhere unto, as the rule 
of my faith and conversation. I embrace the covenant, 
wherein thou hast promised and sworn to be mine ; and that 
blessing thou wilt bless me in Christ for thine own sake : 
and I do here heartily, willingly, and joyfully, with fear and 
trembling, offer up myself to thee, and to the belief of thy 
word ; and do bind myself to thee this day with my whole 



\ SANCTC MM'. 1 L3 

hearty and in express words, to be thine, and to yield myself, 
mine and all that doth concern me, to the good pleasure of 

thy will ; and that I will attend upon thee, through thy 

grace, for wisdom and strength to love, fear, smc. and obey 
thee; that I will choose the things that please thee, and not 
repine at thy dealings towards me, as it' thou hadst forgotten 
at any time to be gracious. I bind myself in the BCOpe and 
virtue of this holy covenant with thee, to have tender affec- 
tions to all thy people who are the joint object of thy lore, 
and to attend upon the manifestation of the Spirit and power 
in thy ordinances ; and, through thy strength, contentedly to 
bear the cross thou shalt lay upon me, in conformity to the 
death of Christ ; and that thyself and thy pure will shall be 
the supreme mark and object of my affections. And () my 
most glorious God, who pitiest the poor, and such who have 
no strength, accept this offering from my hand and heart, and 
succor thy servant, who, under much reluctancy of unbelief, 
doth strive to yield himself to be wholly bound to thee. 
When I look upon my own strength, I loathe it, and am 
astonished at such a work as this ; but I implore thee, and 
do profess I do with full desire of heart cast myself upon 
the wings of thy power, to be carried above all impediments 
that shall arise from Satan, from this present evil world, and 
from the body of sin and death which is within me. 

O Thou, who earnest in the flesh to purchase me, visit the 
soul which thou hast allured to seek and follow thee ; and 
cause the north and south wind to blow upon thy garden, 
my soul, which with delight doth long after thee, in this day 
of thy power and glory. Let no part of thy yoke be a 
burden to me at any time, but a joy to my heart; because 
it is thy yoke, and thou hast said, It is easy and light : O, 
make it so to me. 

And whensoever, O my God, I shall walk unsuitably to 
any of these things, (for I am ready to halt,) and thou shalt, 
as an offended Father, be angry with me, and turn away thy 
face ; then behold the atonement which thou hast set forth 
for sinners, and melt my heart before thee ; lead me to the 
fountain that is opened for sin and uncleanness, and graciously 
renew thy covenant with me ; and let me know that thou 
dost graciously accept of this my free-will offering, by vouch- 
safing thyself to be ready to be found, and by causing me to 
be established in a daily experience, that this my labor and 
purpose of heart (though in much infirmity, yet) in love to 
10 



114 HOW TO FIND GOD 

thy name, is not in vain. And now let an entrance be abun- 
dantly administered into the kingdom of my Christ and my 
God. I profess before thee that I do humbly expect these 
things from thee, O faithful God, who canst not lie ; as what 
thou hast graciously covenanted to give ; ] which covenant I 
do this day, in thy fear, and in the faith of thy performance, 
lay hold upon ; and in reference to all the difficulties of this 
present life, of all sorts, and for needful supply of daily 
bread, I accept of thy promises, and wholly cast and fully 
rest myself upon thee, in them, through the Mediator, for 
faith, courage, patience, contentedness, deliverance, and sup- 
ply, according to thy word, 2 as my need from time to time 
shall require. And also to be kept from polluting thy name 
by sinful and scandalous miscarriages, and appearance of evil 
in the sight of men, as thou hast promised. 3 I accept of, and 
rely upon thy infinite goodness and truth contained in every 
clause of thy word, (though not particularly at this time re- 
hearsed,) for every good thing for my soul and body, here 
and hereafter, as far as ever the purpose of thy grace ex- 
tended, when thou saidst, I will be thy God ; and that all 
that goodness and truth shall follow me all my days, and for- 
ever. 4 And I willingly offer up myself to thy whole will, as 
thou shalt from time to time reveal it in the same word of 
thy grace ; and do covenant subjection thereto in thy 
strength, through the mediation of Jesus Christ, and the 
supply of thy Spirit. 

And upon thy own encouragement, in thy promise made to 
me, in that same covenant which thou madest with my father 
Abraham, and didst seal to him and his seed, that thou 
wouldst be his God, and the God of his seed, and causedst 
the ruan-child of eight days old to receive the sign of that 
covenant in his flesh ; (which blessing thou hast now brought 
over to me a Gentile by Christ, in whom thou sayest Jew 
and Greek, male and female, are all one in Christ ;) I do 
again offer up my child, who has been already baptized into 
thy name, relying on thee to make good thy covenant in 
Christ to her, together with myself, in every branch thereof, 
which I have through thy favor and grace entered into, and 
spread before thee this day ; that she also may have a place 

1 Jer. 32:38—41. 31:33, 34. 

2 Psalm 27: 1—5. Micah 7: 7—9. Heb. 13: 5, 6. Matt. 6: 31—33. 

3 Psalm 91: 9—12. 4 Bom. 8: 32. 



A BAN0TUAR1 . LIS 

in thy house, and partake of nil the privileges and inheri- 
tance of thy chosen. 

And now, () Lord God, what shall I say to thee? who am 

I? and what is my house, thai thou hast brought me hither- 
to? All praise be to thy glorious name, ever-living Jeho- 
vah, the Father, Son, and Spirit. Glory be to thee, 
Father, who hast begotten me again to a lively hope ; who 
hast drawn me to Jesus Christ, whom thou deliverers! up for 
me, to be my ransom, and hast made me to receive him, and 
in him to eall thee my reconciled Father. Glory be to thee, 
O eternal Son of the Father, who earnest into flesh, and 
undertookest the great office of mediatorship between a 
righteous God and sinful man, and hast transacted a cove- 
nant of peace for me, and perfected it in thy own person by 
thy death and resurrection. And glory be to thee, O eternal 
Spirit of the Father and Son ; who hast awakened my ear to 
hear the joyful sound of reconciliation to God, "through the 
blood of the Lamb," which was slain from the beginning of 
the world; who hast been pursuing me, and didst never give 
over, till thou hadst convinced my heart, and conquered my 
will to a willing surrender of myself up to, and a laying 
hold upon, the covenant of grace, held forth to sinners in the 
volume of thy book. Now, O Lord God, let all the words 
of thy grace be effectually applied, and established to me 
thy servant ; pardon all my sins and failings, and all my un- 
suitableness of heart, while I have been before thee musing, 
and taking thy name and covenant in my mouth, and writing 
it with my own hand in thy presence ; and as a fruit of thy 
covenant-grace and truth, let my approach to thee be accept- 
ed and prosper ; for which end I have delivered up myself, 
and all that is mine, with full purpose of heart, according to 
all that I have said before thee this day ; and with a holy 
awe of thy presence in this great work, in confidence and 
hope of thy pardoning, succoring, and assisting grace. I lie 
at the footstool of thy mercy, and call heaven and earth to 
witness, that I have chosen thee to be my God, and thy will 
in all things to be my inheritance and my delight, and the 
matter of my pursuance all my days, upon the ground and 
promise which thou hast said, IIos. ii. 23. "I will say to 
them which were not my people, Thou art my people ; and 
they shall say, Thou art my God." I liave said it, and do 
say it, and do leave this covenant in the hand of my ^Media- 
tor, to see it fulfilled to me, and by me, through all the days 



116 HOW TO FIND GOD 

of my infirmity and warfare, till I come to behold his face 
as he is, and this vile body of mine be made like to his 
glorious body. In reliance on which relief, and blessed 
hope and help, I cling upon this covenant of free grace ; 
in which I do both take and give as I have said, and do 
subscribe it irrevocably with my hand. 

Henry Dorney. 

The Soul chides Unbelief. 

Do not say, O grumbling unbelief, that these are nothing 
but compiled words of human invention ; I tell thee, as far 
as they are only invention, I do loathe them ; but the Spirit 
of God doth witness with my spirit, that amongst these 
words there hath been some hunger after God, some awe of 
his presence, some love to be his devoted servant, some 
prizing of the excellency of a pure life of faith, some holy 
convictions of the importance and necessity of such an at- 
tempt, at least, as this, to bring God and my soul nearer 
together. 

And therefore, though there is much chaffiness of a dead 
heart, yet I cannot gratify my doubts and unbelief so far as 
to conclude there is no wheat in the heap ; and I refer my- 
self desirously and willingly to the heart-knowing eye of 
Him who has his fan in his hand, to blow away all the chaff 
from my thoughts and words, and to create in me a clean 
heart, and pure language also ; and to gather what there is 
of secret panting after him into his own garner, and put my 
inward groanings after him, how weak and faint soever, into 
his bottle ; and therefore I must (and by his help will) praise 
him for any crumbs that fall from his table, and that I have 
any appetite to eat them, and any desire after larger morsels. 

My Redeemer is bountiful ; his breasts are full, and he 
will not suffer a hungry child to draw nothing but wind. I 
remember well what he said to the woman of Samaria : " If 
thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to 
thee, Give me to drink, thou wouldst have asked of him, and 
he would have given thee living water." 1 I have asked of 
him, and have had his favor to wait on him now several 
days together ; and will he return my bucket altogether 
empty ? This is not his custom. The kingdom of God is 

1 John 4: 10. 



A BANGTUABI 1 17 

like seed sown, which Bpringa np av i 1 1 1 an insensible mo- 
tion, ami yet a growing motion. 1 Ho proceeds in the 

method oi % his own word; in which he sailh, "Seek, and 

ye shall find: lor every one thai seeketh, Bndeth;" and 
shall I say, My Beekings are lost ? My way is not hid 
from God, when bis path is hid from mo. lie hath said, 
u They that wait on the Lord shall renew their strength," 2 
which I have obliged myself to do : and therefore, 
though he humble me, to preserve a watchful appetite, 
and to prevent some unhealthy surfeit growing upon me, 
which he can discern in my constitution, better than I ; yet 
I know, I shall not return ashamed, but be kept in more 
wakeful pursuits after him ; and while I follow him, I am 
with him in my desire ; and if I desire him, he desires me, 
and there, in the communion of desires, we meet, 3 till the 
shadow r s flee aw r ay. u A sluggard, indeed, desireth, and hath 
not, because his hands refuse to labor ; " 4 but a laborious de- 
sire after Christ, enjoys him in the eye of faith, and scrip- 
ture evidence. 5 And therefore in patience and faith of the 
scriptures I have hope. And what though some outward 
disadvantage has been occasioned (which yet I know not of) 
by this retirement to seek him, who knows my soul loveth 
him. Will not he, some way or other, repay that loss, and 
heal that breach ? O Lord, pardon, pity, and care for him, 
who, in love to thyself, and thy holy will, desires " to seek 
the kingdom of God first, and then cheerfully to depend 
upon having all needful things added unto him." Matt. 
vi. 33. 

1 Mark 4: 26, 27. 2 Isa. 40: 31. 3 Cant. 7: 10. 

4 Prov. 21: 25. 5 Rev. 21: 6. 22: 17. John 7: 38, 39. 

10* 



118 



A DISCOURSE OF 



UNION WITH CHRIST, 



John 17:23. 

I in them, and Thou in Me, that they may he made per- 
fect in One. 

When I consider this true-love's knot, uttered by Christ 
himself, and the wondrous union in these three words, I — 
thou — and they, declared by Christ, at his passage from 
earth to heaven, as the contrived counsel of the eternal God, 
Father, Son, and Spirit ; and when I find up and down in 
the scriptures, that the elect (when once they are quickened 
by the Spirit into the state of regeneration) are said to have 
their life in God, 1 and that God lives in them, dwells in 
them, and they in him ; 2 that their works are wrought in 
God ; 3 that God worketh in them ; 4 that God walks in 
them ; 5 that they walk with God, and in his name ; 6 that 
Christ speaks in them, and they in him ; 7 I say, when I con- 
sider such like expressions plentifully scattered by the Holy 
Spirit in the scriptures, I conclude there is some admirable 
union betwixt the Father of glory, and every one of his 
elect seed in Christ; which is a mystery so spiritual, a sacred 
palace so secret, that the most exquisite parts of nature can 
never enter in, to view it as it is. It is New Jerusalem 
under a vail, into which flesh and blood cannot enter. But 
seeing Christ has said, " To you it is given to know the 
mystery of the kingdom of God," 8 I would humbly wait for 
the power of the Spirit to transform and fit me, and the 
manifestation of the Spirit to teach me ; that so inquiring, I 

1 Col. 3: 3. 2 2 Cor. 6: 16. 1 John 4: 13. 3 John 3: 21. 

4 1 Cor. 12: 6. 5 2 Cor. 6: 16. 6 Gen. 5: 24. Mic. 4: 5. 

7 2 Cor 13: 3, and 12: 19. e Mark 4: 1 1. 



UNION' with CHRIST. IT.) 

ma j enter; and entering, may possess this purchased pos- 
session, :ii least in the first-fruits and earnest thereof. And 
although I am to Bhrivel up before the mysterious heat and 
lustre of this gospel; ye< being commanded to Beek the 
Lord, and being under a promise of help, 1 I wail on God 
for strength and wisdom to attempt this inquiry. And me- 
thinks these steps do oiler themselves : — 

The infinitely wise God decreed to make man, and the 
visible world to be his habitation, and the creatures to 
serve him. 

Man is made in a state of righteousness, and so stands 
upon his own legs, but in a moment, (as it were) he begins 
to totter, and falls from that state, into a state of sin and 
misery; God so permitting it, that his justice and mercy 
might be the more exalted. A remnant of undone mankind 
are decreed to salvation in a way of mercy. And that the 
justice of God against sin and sinners may be preserved, 
and yet the elect remnant saved, God himself, in the person of 
the eternal Son, assumes the nature of mankind into the 
union of his person ! and in that nature pays to his own 
justice all the debt in which this elect remnant, among the 
rest of fallen mankind, had involved themselves ; in per- 
forming whereof, he unites himself so near to them, and 
them so near to himself, that what he did for them was 
reckoned, by justice itself, accountable to the behoof and 
concernment of each elected person, as much as if every one 
of them had completely satisfied justice in their own per- 
sons ; and the union is so near betwixt him and them, 
that whereas he is the express image of the Father, and has 
all power committed to him, he stamps upon them the image 
of God anew, namely, righteousness and true holiness ; which 
become theirs only through union with him, and do only ex- 
ist in their existing in him. And this existence is wrought 
by the Holy Spirit, forming him spiritually in their hearts, as 
he formed him bodily in the virgin's womb ; which formation 
of Christ in their hearts becomes a mystical, spiritual, and 
true union betwixt him and them ; and this same Spirit 
again works faith in them, that they may be made living 
subjects, and suitably capacitated for this mutual union be- 
twixt them also and him. And thus the Lord of life, having 
enlivened to himself a living spouse, they enjoy each other 

1 Jcr. 31:9 



120 A DISCOURSE OF 

by an unalterable nearness of spiritual indwelling in each 
other ; such a nearness, that the Spirit of God, who manages 
the union, sticks not to say of the church, and so of every 
particular person thereof, that they are members of his body, 
of his flesh, and of his bones ; and not only that, but he that 
is joined unto the Lord, is one Spirit. 1 Hence it comes to 
pass, that from the very moment that a soul hath accepted 
of Jesus Christ, (being seized upon to that purpose by the 
Spirit of regeneration, proceeding from the Father through 
the Son, and received by believing,) that believing person, so 
effectually visited by the call of the gospel, doth now, and 
never before, become a new man; and though sins and 
temptations, ever so many do batter and bruise, yet his house 
cannot fall, nor his state be altered ; because God himself has 
laid his foundation on a rock, and has drawn the soul's con- 
sent, by believing, to lay it there too ; and this rock is Christ, 
in whom the Almighty God receives this believing and re- 
newed person into that union and true real nearness, which 
lies shadowed forth in the scriptures of truth, under the 
terms of father and child, 2 husband and wife, 3 vine and 
branches ; 4 yea, as one body consisting of head and mem- 
bers ; and many such like similitudes in the scriptures, to set 
forth this wonderful nearness and union ; from whence it fol- 
loweth, that no action, state or condition of such a renewed 
person (whether it be inward or outward) is so entirely his 
own, and of private concernment to himself alone, as it was 
before. His sins were more entirely his own damage before ; 
now they wound his relation, and grieve Christ. 5 He sinned 
before against the law of God, he now sins in all his mis- 
carriages against Christ also ; 6 and against the law of his 
marriage relation to him. 7 He bare his own guilt before 
perhaps with horror and distraction, now Christ bears it for 
him before his very eyes, and melts his heart into remorse at 
the sight of such a spectacle. 8 Ten thousand rivers of oil 
could not expiate one sin before ; but now, as a cloud driven 
before the wind, they all fly away before the efficacy of the 
one sacrifice of Christ, to whom, and to which, by faith he 
is united. His sins made him wander still farther and 
farther from God before, now they are made (contrary to 

1 Eph. 5: 29, 30. 1 Cor. 6: 15, 17. 2 2 Cor. 6: 17, 18. 

3 Eph. 5: 25, etc. 4 John 15: 5. 5 Eph. 4: 30. 

6 1 Cor. 8: 12. 7 Ezek. 16: 38. 8 Zcch. 12: 10. 



UNION WITH CHBIST. L21 

their own nature) to scourge him into the fresh application 
of Jesus Christ, by whom he draws near to God. 1 In all 
his afflictions he was alone before, now Christ is bis partner; 9 
Christ is truly touched with his calamities ; a his smart i 
die pricking of the apple of Christ's ey< 

As ibv \o>>{\< in temporal things, they were before judg- 
ments upon him, they are now gracious trials of his faith 
and patience, and means of purging him, and drawing him 
into a nearer reliance on the Heir of all things : BO that his 
losses and crosses do not now tend to undo him, but to 
awaken and transform him. 5 In the midst of his fears he is 
not forsaken ; ,: but through this union with Christ he is still 
in safe hands. 1 

Temptations of Satan and his fury cannot destroy him ; 
because the Prince of Life, to whom a renewed person is 
united, has cast out the prince of this world, 8 and tempers 
his poisonous temptations into a physical potion, curbing 
noxious humors in order to health; working the soul to 
more humility, faith, prayer, and patient recumbency on God, 
and contentment in him. 9 

The mere civil actions of such a person, though the same 
in themselves, yet, in respect of the change of the agent, 
have some different consideration than they had before. He 
sets about them with other motives, other dispositions, and 
other ends than he had before ; which appear in this, that 
although the thing be done or spoken ever so well to the 
contentment of others, yet if Christ, to whom this new crea- 
ture is united, be not served with singleness of heart therein, 
this renewed soul aches as much as if the action itself had 
been done ever so greatly amiss. And whence comes this 
smiting of heart, 10 but from this union with God in Je 
Christ, in that the proper sway and tendency of such con- 
victions is to bring the soul still nearer and nearer to God 
through Jesus Christ ; which gives a spiritual discovery of 
the unseen and living breath and pulse of this union? 11 And 
this seems to have relation to that expression used by the 
Lord to his people of old, "The quarrel of my covenant ;" J2 
threatening to punish them for their sins, as they were con- 

i Psalm 89: 30-32. 1 Pet. 3: 18. a Isa. G3: 9. y Zcch. 1: 12. 

4 Zech. 2: 8. 6 1 Sam. 30: 6. G 2 Cor. 4: 8, 9. 

7 Psalm 22: 1. Isa. 43: 2. Dan. 3: 17, 18, 25. 8 John 12: 31. 

9 2 Cor. 12: 7-10. 1Q 2 Sam. 24: 10. n Ezek. 20: 37. 

Lev. 26: 25. 



122 A DISCOURSE OF 

trary not only to the law of righteousness, but also to the 
law of covenant-relation. 

Yea, all the labors, anxieties, and solicitous exigencies in 
the affairs and business of a renewed person, do run along 
through the sympathy of Christ, and, by reason of this near 
union, he cannot but be copartner therein ; and looks to it, 
that one way or other the incumbrance shall issue in advan- 
tage. He condescends to be as one weak with them that are 
weak, as one troubled with them who are troubled, that he 
may discipline the grace, and exercise the faith of his people ; 
whereby he guides them along into some unavoidable neces- 
sity of resignation of themselves and their cares into the 
arms of his divine power, and so ripens in them the appli- 
cation of this union betwixt him and them in their hearts. 
And his design being to bring his people, as a chaste virgin, 
to himself, he aims rather at the carrying on of that drift, 
than at the answering the natural desires of his people 
about ease or deliverance, any otherwise than as may suit 
with that end of his, in making them partakers of his holi- 
ness ; and whispers secretly into their ear, " The servant is 
not to be above his master. I trod the dirty and toilsome 
way before you, and am treading over again every step of 
it with you, and in you. You must be conformable to my 
death, and shall be conformable to my resurrection. Come 
along with me, and your burdens shall not break you, be- 
cause they cannot break me. Your own projects may fail, 
but in me you are heirs of blessing and deliverance, and 
shall not go without them ; 1 I will give you rest." 2 He 
relieved not his own body against the treachery of Judas 
and the company that came to apprehend him, although he 
was the omnipotent God, and had all power in his hands ; 
because it suited not with the design of man's redemption : 
and as it fared with that body of his that was in personal 
union with the Godhead, so doth it fare, in some proportion, 
with each member of his mystical body. Their burdens and 
perplexities do not at all import that his hand is shortened, or 
that he is really absent, or hath forgotten them, any more 
than his divine nature could be separated from the human 
nature, when the stress of his sorrow made him cry out, 
" My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me ? " As that 
union carried him through, so will this union carry through 
his members also. 

1 Heb. 6: 15. 2 Matt. 11: 28. 



UNION WITH CHBI8T. 123 



Some Considerations in order to the Application^ and Im- 
provement of this Union with God in Christ. 

It being now about three years past that God was pleased 
to put the aforesaid meditations into my hear! ; and having 
Bince that time been a Stranger lor a season in a land beyond 
the sea, and there passing through a dark vale of distance 
from and privation of those ordinances and that society 
which I formerly enjoyed ; and having there also lain in the 
shadow of death, through a long and lingering sickness of 
my body ; and being now, some months past, returned back 
to my own native country, where the good hand of God 
(which never left me quite desolate) hath caused me to 
review the solemn covenant which, through his grace, I 
entered into, the 30th December, 1G60, I renewed that 
covenant yesterday ; and having therein solemnly given up 
myself again to the Lord, and accepted of him, in the 
tenders of his grace, to be my God and Saviour, and to own 
him in all the relations of his condescending grace and love, 
and also to submit willingly to his blessed yoke, rule and 
will, expressed by his Spirit in his word ; I find still much 
longing in my soul to know him more inwardly, that I might 
the more enjoy him, and be more abundant in my service to 
him ; and to that purpose, having perused over again the 
foregoing meditations concerning the union between God and 
all and every one of his people in Jesus Christ ; and my 
heart assenting thereto, and being somewhat refreshed in 
those truths of God, about the nature and advantageous ef- 
fects of this mysterious union : and considering how greatly 
the faith and improvement of this astonishing privilege 
would conduce to carry on the ends of my covenant with 
God, of his (for so he persuaded my heart to believe) with 
me, I thought it necessary to employ a present providential 
retirement on this 29th of January, 16G3, (and so from time- 
to time, as God shall permit and assist me) to improve this 
gospel-truth, of a believer's union with God in Christ, for 
my soul's further nourishment, strength, and establishment, 
as the principal inlet, both of new life, and of all spiritual 
vigor and activity. 

My inquiry then, at this time, is, how to sel up this 
mirror so before the eyes of my mind, that I may, by ap- 
plication thereof, be thoroughly transformed into the same 



121: A DISCOURSE OF 

image, and to clear the pipes, that the life and spirit of this 
union with Christ, and the Father in him, may enter into my 
soul, and make me effectually to partake thereof, live there- 
by, and act therein. 

Breathe, O Almighty Spirit, upon my thoughts, fetch in 
my heart, and prostrate it at the feet of thy infinite grace 
and power, for purging, help, and healing ; for light, life, and 
blessing, in this most necessary travail of my soul. How 
long shall I view mysteries of fife, without a suitable living 
transformation ? When shall the light of life appear ? 
When shall Christ be so formed in me, that the man-child 
of power and glory may be brought forth, ruling and new- 
forming my poor soul ? Say, Oh ! say to my soul, ' I am 
come, yea, I am come, not only to make thee to understand, 
but understandingly to receive the mystery of this union, and 
to be efficaciously united, and actually to live in the motions 
and exercise of this union-life.' So be it, O my God, who 
art the Spirit of all grace : so be it. 

1. This union is pure in its nature. The Son of God 
emptied himself, in descending to assume, and be united to, 
the nature of man, and therein to the likeness of sinful flesh ; 
and so works up every adopted child, through emptying it 
from all the wisdom and strength of the first Adam, and 
from all the guilt and pollution derived thence, to the par- 
ticipation of union with him in the Spirit. 

No unclean thing can enter in thither. There can be no 
union but under consideration of perfect purity, effected by 
" the law of the Spirit of life which is in Christ." He took 
on him our nature, and was personally united thereto ; by 
which means the sin of our nature was imputed to his 
person, but could never be united to his person ; for he was 
still sinless while he bare the likeness of " sinful flesh." * 
And therefore the real spiritual union which believers have 
with him, is, in the nature of it, pure and sinless ; and their 
• persons, as they stand in that union, without spot ; 2 for, in 
that respect, they are wholly brought over from the stock of 
the first Adam, into the second, and return back no more, 
although the polluted nature of the first Adam sticks in their 
flesh, till its dissolution and total change. And from thence 
it follows, that the Spirit of Christ, in applying this mystical 
union with him to the soul, by faith, draws the soul of a be- 

1 Heb. 4: 15. 2 Col. 1: 22. 



UNION WITH CHRIST. [22 

liever (haying sprinkled it from the conscience of guilt) into 

a most quick and lively distaste of nil pollution; nnd so 
divides between that which IS horn of the flesh, and that 
which is born of the Spirit ; throwing aside the pollutions of 
the flesh, that the union may be purely made in the Spirit 
through faith; for, "He that is joined to the Lord is one 
Spirit." 1 Hence it is, that while guilt and sinful pollution 
invade the soul even of a believer, the application of this 
union lies suspended; and during that season, a believer 
abides dark and weak: and though he be in a state of union, 
yet he cannot have the comfort of it ; but is as a strong man 
that cannot find his hands. 

And now, O my soul, consider thy own state ; consider 
the centre of thy happiness, the call of the gospel, the privi- 
lege and necessity of being transplanted into the pure stock 
of the second Adam; and what thou art to do, in the 
strength of free gra^, for entering into, and being made 
partaker of, this wonderful privilege, and most secure rest. 

2. It is inconsistent with unmortifiedness. This whole 
work is wrought by the Lord, both in what his eternal pur- 
pose of grace did decree, and what was carried on in the 
person of Christ for thee, and also in that which he worketh 
in thee by his Spirit, to make thee actually interested, es- 
tablished, and daily growing up, in the light, life, and virtue 
of this union-state with God in Christ. Thy nature is dead 
in sins, thou art wholly polluted, and without strength ; but 
the least serious conviction of this doth imply some step of 
free grace towards thee ; nourish it, and so roll all thy guilt 
upon the Lamb of God. Be laborious, diligent, and fre- 
quent in this weighty exercise. There is no seeking this 
union with any idol in the heart ; 2 for that provoketh to 
jealousy : even an impure thought may not lodge in this bed. 
A dry, earthly, sapless frame of heart cannot be refreshed 
there, because this bed is green : 8 but such is the bounty of 
free grace, that, through the sense and conviction of this in- 
disposition of heart, it leads the soul to Jesus Christ, and 
sprinkles it with his blood, (Oh this efficacious remedy !) and 
washes it again in pure water, removes away the filthy gar- 
ments, and gives it access into the king's presence : " The 
pure in heart shall see God." 4 But thy innumerable impu- 

1 Gal. 2: 20. 1 Cor. 6: 17. 2 Ezek. 14: 3. 

3 Cant. 1: 16. 4 Matt. 5: 8. 

11 



126 A DISCOURSE OF 

rities, my soul, and the continual returns of guilt and 
darkness, hypocrisies, loathsome uncleannesses, unmindful- 
ness of God, backslidings, and impenitent, stupifying fits, do 
many times so captivate this sincerity, and strength, and 
spiritual taste, that no balm can be found, nor anything to 
help, but the free bounty and atonement of him who is 
Michael thy prince. And this is even my case at present. 
Oh, how little doth my heart relish and digest these things, 
while I am musing and writing them ! I am estranged from 
inward converse with God this day, and yet cannot seekingly 
relent. I mention the blood of sprinkling, without prizing 
it at its due value. Oh, let the watchful eye and tender 
heart of him, whose compassions fail not, consider and visit 
me ! But however, O my soul, this is thy work ; " Let 
not evil lodge within thee ; be separate, touch no unclean 
thing," declare thy chastity, by crying out ; and then the 
promise lies fair and free before thee, 1 will receive you." l 
Yea, cry out, and thou shalt be rescued; for "thy Redeemer 
is strong." Here then I must stop, that I may adventure to 
cast myself before him, who has the golden sceptre in his 
hand, before I go any further ; who knows but that he will 
reach it forth, and I shall find favor in his sight ? I come to 
thee, O Lord. 

3. It is only and wholly of God's free grace. This union 
itself which I would come at, and actually live in, is beyond, 
and, indeed, quite another thing than the notion of it. It is 
the voluntary and delightful captivity of my will and affec- 
tions, through the knowledge of him who has called me to 
this glory and virtue ; it is my true dwelling-place, the very 
foundation of my rest and repose, the palace of my triumph, 
the very spring and rise of self-abhorring ; which makes 
self-loathing brisk and vigorous, by issuing itself into the 
soul's participation of the purity, light, and strength of the 
divine nature, and into a sincere, open-hearted resignation 
thereunto. It is begun and carried on wholly by the free 
grace of God. It sprang from his electing and predestinat- 
ing favor, who worketh it according to the " counsel of his 
own will." 2 It is the scope of his free and gracious cove- 
nant ; " I will be your God, and you shall be my people : " 3 
the actual instating of my soul into it, ariseth from the free 
call of God. 4 The overcoming and destroying all difficulties 

1 2 Cor. 6: 17. 2 Eph. 1: 4, 10, 11. Rom. 8: 29. 

3 Ezek. 37: 26,27. 4 1 Cor. 1: 9. 



UNION WITH CHBIBT. 127 

that may obstrucl it, is thoroughly managed in the person of 
Christ, who has made both one; and died, to "bring me to 
God." ] As for the application and enjoyment of this union- 
state, his prayer,&and promise, 8 do stand in force day and 
night, without ceasing, to obtain ii for me, and effect it in 
me. ^ His blood has confirmed the covenant for it, and has 
put into it the virtue and force of a will and testament, 
which cannot be disannulled. 4 And the manifestation <>t 
this is only try his Word and Spirit, proclaiming and testify- 
ing this good will of God to men ; 5 whereby he doth effect- 
ually bring in this reconciliation, 6 and effecteth union there- 
upon : " Ye are bought with a price ; therefore glorify God 
in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's/" So that 
I am wholly God's workmanship, who has ordained this 
union, and created me in Christ for it. " I believe ; Lord, 
help my unbelief." How little do I see ! How little do I 
taste, and applyingly possess this bottomless privilege, which 
the glorious angels desire to look into ! 

Improve it then by meditation. Having considered the 
purity of this union, and the inconsistency that is betwixt 
this union and guilt, and unmodified sinful pollutions, as to 
the comfortable application of it; and also the divine spring, 
the free grace and bounty of God, in creating and carrying 
it on ; into which thoughts and considerations the God of all 
grace is only able to put seasoning and heart-framing force, 
to make way for the application of it ; now, O my soul, com- 
pel thyself to the serious meditation of the reality of this 
union. 

Application. 

1. Be persuaded that it is a real union : It is invisible, but 
real; wondrous and incomprehensible, but real and true. 
God has made thy sins thy burden ; his holiness, and his 
new stamp, thy greatest and most deliberate desire. Whence 
comes this but from the Spirit of Christ, in whom the per- 
fection of enmity against sin lies, and in whom all the trea- 
sures of grace are laid up ? How comes his Spirit to work 
an influence of the same nature in thee, bul as thou art 
taken into union with Him, as a member of his body, par- 

1 1 Pet. 3: 18. 2 John 17: 21. 3 John 14: 20. 

4 Lnkc 22: 20. compared with 1 Pet 3: 18 and Heb. 9: 17 

5 1 John 3: 24. 6 2 Cor. 5: 18, 19. * i Cor. 6: 20. 



128 A DISCOURSE OF 

taking of the vital influences of the head ? And seeing the 
fulness of the Godhead dwells in him, whose Spirit dwells 
in thee, 1 and the divine nature of the Father, Son, and 
Spirit one and the same, 2 thou becomest (in a way of adop- 
tion, and according to the created capacity thou art in) really, 
at present, an heir, together with Christ, of the glory of God, 
and shalt rightfully (through free grace) possess to the full 
that inheritance. These are mine, saith the Lord, 3 I am thy 
God : 4 In me thou shalt be saved : 5 Thy Maker is thy hus- 
band. 6 What is all this but union with him ? 

Now, O my soul, meditate again. Am I indeed, brought 
in by Christ, to union with God ? Are we no longer two, 
but one Spirit ? Can such a thing be ? I do not doubt it, 
but admire it. What ? He that made heaven and earth, 
and all men upon earth ; He who is the very life of the whole 
creation ; He to whom Abraham, Moses, and David, and all 
the worthies of old, prayed, whom they served and adored, 
who carried them through all their trials ; to whose truth, 
wisdom, love, and glorious power they did bear witness, and 
do still testify it to all ages ; Is He mine own God ? Is this 
God really mine ? Is it the word of his own mouth, I am 
thy God ? How unsearchable is this union ! 

Is He whom Simeon embraced in his arms, and said, 
Mine eyes have seen thy salvation ; is He mine ? He who 
wrought all those miracles, who healed diseases, cast out 
devils, forgave sins on earth, is He mine ? He who had 
compassion on the leper, and healed him ; He who had com- 
passion on the multitude, and fed them ; who spied out Na- 
thanael, visited Zaccheus, raised the dead ; is He mine ? He 
who preached the gospel from heaven ; who, in the garden 
and upon the cross, did bear our sins in his own body ; who 
did sweat blood, and was pierced through for sins, for sin- 
ners : Is He mine ? His satisfaction mine ? His compas- 
sion mine ? Those tender bowels mine ? Was I then 
comprised in his prayer ? 7 And is this Joseph yet alive, 
and his nature not changed, but glorified to the perfection of 
power and sympathy ? Is He mine ? And am I indeed his ?' 
He who comforted his disciples, buried in oblivion their sins 
and miscarriages, and blessed them immediately at his ascen- 
sion ; and in the full warmth of his love ascended, and sat at 

1 Col. 2: 9, 10. * 1 John 5: 7. 8 Mai. 3: 17. 4 Isa. 41: 10. 
5 Isa. 45: 17. 6 Isa. 54: 5. "* John xvii. 



UNION with ciiuist. 129 

the right hand of the Majesty on high, where love never 
ceaseth ; is this, and none bul this, the Judge whom I expect, 
even nay Lord, and my God ? Be whom Paul saw, whom 

all the apostles did preach, who converted the GrOntileS, and 
has kept alive the efficacy of his word, tO this day ; He who 
is the faithful witness ; is He my own ? He who is exalted 

to give repentance and remission of sins ; is lie mine, to 
teach, purge, justify, and quicken me ? As near to me as 
the head to the body ; the root to the tree and branches ; 
the husband to the wife ; doth He even call me his own flesh 
and bones ? Doth He live and breathe in me, and I in him ? 
Oh ! for more faith, reverence, thanksgiving, with all man- 
ner of becoming thoughts, words, and deeds concerning him, 
and concerning the reality of such a privilege ! Oh ! when 
shall the shadows flee away ? Be very serious, O my soul, 
in exercising faith, to represent the truth and reality of this 
union-state, that there is such a thing ; and let that exercise 
dilate thy thoughts in an awful, serious, comfortable reve- 
rence, and reverend love of God manifested in the flesh, to 
be Emmanuel, God with us. Pursue this meditation till 
thou even makest this union as visible as may be to the eye 
of thy faith. 

2. Consider the nature of this union. It is unchangeable ; it 
was made in God's decree, before all time, and constituted for 
eternity. The bond is God's faithfulness and love. It is an 
indissoluble marriage ; an ingrafture into the fulness, fountain, 
and perfection of life. It is the purchase, possession, and un- 
withering inheritance of Him, who is the same yesterday, to- 
day, and forever. It is reciprocal ; Christ is thine, and thou art 
his ; "My beloved is mine, and I am his." ! What shall I give 
thee ? saith Christ. Not only a kingdom, but myself. What 
shall I render ? saith the soul. Not only all my praises, but 
my whole self. Possess me, rule me, fill me ; take my heart, 
and give me thine. Let thy love be shed into my heart with 
a ravishing inundation ; and let my love be tender, fer- 
vent, pure, and find no object elsewhere but thee. It is a 
union that hath distinguishing excellency in it, a remnant 
chosen out of many; between which remnant and the rest, 
nothing made the difference but the free choice of God. It 
is a union created of contraries made up of unreconciled 
parties, who were at the extremest enmity, and now become 

1 Cant. 2: 16. 
11* 



130 A DISCOURSE OF 

of the most absolute and affectionate amity ; so it is in Christ, 
and so it is (in the seed of it) in all the persons united to 
him. A union in which the party wronged, voluntarily be- 
gan to love first, 1 and wooed the offending party to a recon- 
cilement. It issued from that peremptory, yet deliberate 
sentence, " I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy." 
It is in short a union, in all respects, wonderfully made. 
And what thoughts are sufficient for these things ? 

3. Consider the privileges of this union, which are all on 
the sinner's side. Christ is exalted to give, and sinners 
called up to receive. ■ And what must sinners receive, who 
are received into this union ? Come in, O my soul, for thy 
share, for the treasury is unspeakably rich. Through this 
Emmanuel-knot of union, God is not ashamed to be called 
the God of poor sinners ; only as he changeth their state, he 
'changeth their names. They are now, in proper, true appel- 
lation, saints, though sin remains in them : they are beloved, 
who were not beloved ; they are sons and daughters of God ; 
every one is a prince by a second birth : they are taken out 
of prison, and do sit at the King's table ; their filthy gar- 
ments are removed away, and they are clothed with white 
raiment ; they are delivered from the pit, and return thither 
no more ; they have a goodly heritage, God himself is their 
portion ; all the power, truth, wisdom, goodness, and mercy 
that ever God made known to, and for, his people, in all 
ages, is their inheritance ; all the promises and providen- 
ces which God made and wrought at any time, are for their 
use, experience, teaching, and comfort; all the directions, 
examples, and precepts in the scriptures, and all the reproofs 
and threatenings there, are for their learning, consolation and 
discipline, to purge, strengthen and guard them, till the old 
man be quite destroyed, till they arrive beyond sin, change 
and hazard : their society is with the Spirit of the Father 
and the Son, with the image of Christ in his people, the mind 
of Christ in his word, the breath, presence, and blessing of 
Christ in his ordinances ; their sufferings, difficulties, and 
fears have lost their destroying, deadly sting ; their life is 
Christ in them the hope of glory ; their end is peace ; their 
death is their gain. However it is for a season with their 
outward or inward man, they are never otherwise than the 
blessed of the Lord, and the objects of his delight, care, 

1 1 John 4: 19. 



VNION WITH CHRIST. 181 

good-will and protection, Jer.XXXli.88 — 41 ; Isa. xxvii. 3 ; 
and utter this life, that unutterable blessedness which they 
are to enjoy when they shall he ever with the Lord, u Eye 
hath not seen, nor ear heard, nor can any bearl to the full 
understand;" much less can my meditation reach it, or pen 
declare it, only I may say, it is an exceeding — excellent — 
eternal weight of glory! Consider these privileges, O 
my soul, make the most of them. This prize is in thy hand ; 
be not as a fool that has no heart; muse the matter, peruse 
the scriptures, and muse it again and again. These are not 
vain glosses, or pleasingly devised fables ; the things are 
real, glorious and great. Have often and large thoughts of 
this union with Christ ; let the application of it dwell with 
thee day and night. 

Improvement. 

Improve this union by exercise. And that thou mayest 
come up to a clearer vision of this fountain of life, and drink 
abundantly of the water thereof, visit it often, pry modestly, 
reverentially, and seriously into it ; not for curiosity, but for 
transformation. It is all thy portion ; a portion that hath 
seven portions in it, all portion in it. 1 He that by faith over- 
cometh, and wins this prize, shall inherit all things : for " I 
(saith the faithful witness) will be his God, and he shall be 
my Son." 2 Here is the union, and the privilege also. 
Familiarize this mystery of union with Christ, by remem- 
bering and having recourse to it, in the use of all ordinances 
of worship, in all Christian duties, in all use of gifts, in all 
conditions of life ; in all seasons, day and night, in the exer- 
cise of every grace. Send up many ejaculatory visits. 
Stand upon thy watch continually. Let this word always 
ring in thine ear, " Without Me (separate from me) ye can 
do nothing." 3 Beware of cooling, beware of dismay; re- 
member this union is grounded on God's eternal, unchangea- 
ble love ; his faithfulness upholds it ; it is as the sun in the 
firmament ; thou hast but a little time to take hold of it ; the 
ruin of this union is the only thing which thine enemies, the 
world, the flesh, and the devil aim at. And now, O my 
precious soul, rouse up thyself to this exercise ; " thy labor 
shall not be in vain in the Lord." 

Matt. 19: 29. 2 Bcv. 21: 7. 8 John 15: 5. 



132 A DISCOURSE OF 

Use every ordinance to further this union. 

1. Hearing. In hearing the word digest all the matter 
into these two heads, as the main ultimate scope of whatever 
thou hearest ; either a removal of obstructions which keep 
God and thee asunder, or a supply of some uniting power, to 
bring God and thee together. Come to the word with ex- 
pectation to meet the Lord himself there ; deliver thyself to 
the word in the hand of God ; hear his voice through rffan's 
words ; account the Physician of souls wiser than thyself; 
lie before him as a mere patient ; refuse no potion which the 
word of reconciliation brings. Let it not rest in the under- 
standing, but pass along into some real, transforming im- 
pression on the will, that it may be won home to God in 
Christ, the centre of thy new state. Get within the scope 
and spirit of the matter, for there lies Christ attending to 
meet thee. 

2. Reading. In reading, observe, and get into the soul 
(as it were) of him who was the writer, (whether Moses, 
David, Paul, or any other,) as if thyself had been the 
penman, by the inspiration of the Spirit. Use the Scrip- 
tures as if this had been the first day they had been penned ; 
as if thou hadst seen the persons, and hadst been in the 
place with them, when they spake and wrote them ; as if 
thou hadst seen Christ when he spake, did, and suffered what 
thou readest ; and as if the scriptures had been sent only to 
thee, to win and work thee up to a reconcilement with 
God. 

3. Seals. Labor to see the wisdom and goodness of God 
in the seals of the covenant. Their end is to realize in- 
visible things, and to enforce the obligation and union be- 
tween Christ and thee, unto the strongest evidence and 
application. 

By baptism thou art sacramentally taken into, and by 
the ordinance of the Lord's Supper sacramentally thou 
art fed and nourished up, in this union. There was no 
other end than this, as signifying the main union with Christ 
as the head, and with his people as the members of his 
body. The virtue is inward : Oh ! for more faith and sight 
into this mystery ! 

Tokens among men do oblige, and are very forcible ; they 
carry in them the mind of the giver ; and the token being 
candidly accepted, the mind of the giver is accepted ; and in 
that token there meets consent and union betwixt giver and 



UNION WITH CHRIST. 188 

receiver. The}- have (as it were) a magnetic force also, al 
the experience of such things doth show. Tims it is with 
these mysterious tokens between Christ and his people. 
Ponder them, and improve them to that purpo-e. 

4. Prayer, And as all ordinances are the galleries of in- 
tercourse between God and his people in Christ ; BO prayer 
hath in this work an eminency. It is the very intercession 
of God's own Spirit in them : it is the private retirement, in 
which the soul is brought into the presence-chamber, and 
hath private conference with Christ, and the Father in him. 
The very nature of prayer is a thirst after the living God. 1 
It is the very breathing of the soul's union with God ; and 
the means whereby it is preserved, fortified, carried on, and 
confirmed; and whereby the sweetness and nourishing virtue 
of it to the soul is improved, enjoyed and increased. Let 
thy prayers then be inward and single-hearted ; chiefly aim- 
ing at, and prizing this union. And refer all other things of 
a remote nature to the wisdom of Him to whom thou art 
united. Speak to him as one who is in his bosom ; and con- 
sider him as thy only helper, and thy most sure friend. 
Come reverently, believingly, with resignation of thine heart 
to his, and so creep forward into an humble intimacy and 
familiarity with thy God. This union only begets the true 
cry of Abba, Father, and nourisheth it. 

And if faith can but enter with all its glorious train, how 
will this union shine forth ! Faith springs from this union 
in order of nature, but in order of time it is brought forth 
with it. There can be no faith, or any other grace, till the 
God of all grace hath taken the soul into actual union with 
Himself ; and so faith is the fruit of this union. Neither 
can there be any union without some exercise of faith, in 
which the life of this union begins to stir : for there can be 
no union between God, who is living, and the soul, which by 
nature, is dead in distance and sin, till faith, which is the first 
spark of life in the new creature, do capacitate the soul for 
its union with God in Christ. The spirit of this union, by 
every spiritual means, doth hold out nourishment for faith 
to grow by ; and faith, by those means, settles the soul more 
and more in the bosom, warmth, and efficaciousness of its 
union with Christ, and the Father in Him: in which interest 
and efficaciousness, faith grows up, and puts the soul upon 

i Psalm 63: 1. 



134 A DISCOURSE OF 

high and noble exercises ; strengthens it, and puts it forth to 
mighty attempts ; so that the actual union of God to, in, and 
with the soul, is the first principle of its life ; and faith is the 
first motion of that life ; there can be no life without some 
motion, no natural motion without some life : which quality 
of motion does more and more declare that there is life as 
the cause thereof. 

The soul being made alive to God, 1 lives by faith. 2 The 
primary means (in the hand of God's free grace) which 
accomplished this union, is Christ, who hath taken the com- 
mon nature of man into union with his person ; and in that 
nature (the fulness of the godhead dwelling therein bodily) 
he doth, by his Spirit, breathe the spirit of life nto those, 
who, by the election of grace, are given to Him as his pos- 
terity ; and therefore, as the ends of the earth are given to 
Him for a possession, 3 He is called the Creator of the ends 
of the earth ; 4 and Creator of this peace and union ; 5 and 
the Everlasting Father also ; 6 by whom (as Mediator) the 
living God and the enlivened soul (which was dead and sin- 
ful before) are made one, namely, in the life and purity of 
the Mediator. He reconciles them by removing the enmity 
in his own body on the cross : He unites, by receiving the 
souls and bodies of the elect into his own property and pos- 
session. They are actually his in their new creation and 
regeneration/ and being his, they are the Father's also : I 
in them, and thou in me, and they in us. 8 

The secondary means is the word of reconciliation and 
promise ; 9 and faith closing with Christ thereby ; 10 and all 
this wrought by the Spirit in a way of quickening and effi- 
cacy, 11 conveyed into the soul, and maintained there by faith, 
the free gift of God. 

Which faith, being thus born, bred, and spirited, convers- 
eth most with this union in the discoveries and application 
thereof; and, by its much converse there, is capacitated to 
dart the rays, influence, and virtue of this union into all the 
rest of the graces of the Spirit ; without which influence, no 
grace comes up to its true and proper exercise. And as the 
whole soul is taken into this union by faith, and the body 

1 Eph. 2: 1. Rom. 6: 11. 2 Gal. 2: 20. Hab. 2: 4. 

3 Psalm 2: 8. * Isa. 40: 28. 5 Eph. 2: 16, 17. Isa. 57: 19. 

6 Isa. 9:6. 7 J hn 17: 10. 2 Cor. 5: 17. 

8 John 17: 21—23. 9 2 Cor. 5: 19. 2 Pet. 1: 4. 

1° Gal. 3: 25. Eph. 1: 15. U Rom. 8: 10, 11. 



UNION WITB CHRIST. L8fi 

also, through its union with the soul, the whole person is 
called a believer ; who lives by faith, both in regard to its 
inward, invisible operation, and also of its moulding anew 
the outward and visible conversation : bo thai a believer both 
loves by faith, 1 and walks by faith, 9 not only in Himself, bnl 
manifestly to others, by words, 3 and examples. 4 

Its chief scat is the understanding and the will. What- 
ever it discovers, it calls in the will to assent to ; working 
up the whole soul to a propensity of resignation to the power 
and sovereignty of every divine truth; and, in particular, to 
the enjoyment and privilege, government and laws, of this 
union state: and so it sets itself, as a mighty champion in 
the hand of the Lord, to exercise its skill and power in the 
soul : and now r , Oh ! that it might be up and doing, in my 
soul, and so go on and prosper ! And Oh! that its bow may 
abide in strength, and the arms of its hands be made strong 
through the hands of the mighty God of Jacob ; and, under 
the influence of divine grace, be blessed, and made to go on, 
increase, be enlarged, and conquer. Rise up, O shield and 
buckler, O arm of the Lord ! I have waited, and do wait, 
for thy salvation, O Lord : leave me not. 

1 Heb. 10: 38. 2 2 Cor. 5: 7. 3 Kom. 1: 12. 4 Heb. 13: 7. 



136 
A DISCOURSE OF 

GLORIFYING GOD 



1 Cor. 6: 19, 20. 



What, know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy 
Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are 
not your own ? For ye are bought with a price : there- 
fore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which 
are God's. 

There are four principal things which this portion of 
scripture offers to serious meditation and improvement. 

First, That a true Christian is not his own. 

Secondly, That he is the Lord's. 

Thirdly, That he ought to know his renewed state. 

Fourthly, That his renewed constitution does oblige him 
to promote the glory of God, and live up thereto in soul 
and body. 

First, That a true Christian is not his own, which implies 
three things : 1. That naturally a man acts as if he was his 
own : 2. That true Christianity is more than speculative ; it 
is a real change of the man ; you are not your own : 3. That 
it doth mysteriously divide a man from himself. 

This real alteration and mysterious contrariety is not a 
natural change, but spiritual ; that is, the body, the soul, the 
faculties of the soul, and the rational exercise of those facul- 
ties, are still the same ; and yet a spiritual change doth 
affect them all, and passeth upon the whole man. This 
spiritual change begins in the most hidden part of a man, 
the mind ; and therefore repentance is called a change of the 
mind, 1 which change of the mind doth influence the whole 
man. The mind is said to be changed, when the Spirit of 
God enters in, and exerciseth its sovereign dominion of holi- 

1 /uercwoia. 



GLORIFYING GOD. 187 

ness, againsl the usurpation of the devil and Datura] corrup- 
tion, which reigned there before : whereby the mind is 
controlled into a willing propensity of subjection to the 
authority of the Spirit of God, against the Invasion of Bin, 
which still retains some haunl there, as a lurking subdued 
enemy, (called the flesh Lusting againsl the Spirit.) till it be 
destroyed utterly in the day of full redemption. 

This dominion of the Spirit steers the natural faculties of 
the soul in their rational exercise to new employment, and 
arrays them thereunto with new habits. The understanding 
has a sublimer light, the judgment a better rule, the will and 
affections a better object, better motives, and a better end. 
So that such a person is now said not to be his own ; he is 
not under that universal darkness, pollution, and bondage to 
sin, which he was conceived and born in at first. That was 
his own natural state, but he is now rescued from it, and is no 
longer his own. 

While he was his own, he taught himself by the light of 
fleshly wisdom, and accounted the gospel foolishness, 1 but 
now loathes it ; and, being at a loss, cries, " Lord, what 
wouldst thou have me to do ? " 2 and does, as they did 
who burnt the books in which they learned curious arts 
before, 3 in which lay no savor of Christ and spiritual 
knowledge. 

While he was his own, he ruled himself by the sight of 
his eyes, and imagination of his heart ; 4 by the custom and 
course of the world ; but now consults not with flesh and 
blood. 5 He sees his own bias is false, and his own weights 
too light. 

Motives of pleasure, profit, or honor, do not now draw 
him. lie was led by his own concupiscence, but now 
he is dead to these, and saith, " 1 have no pleasure in 
them." 

He designs not any longer his own things, neither health,'"' 
nor liberty. 7 nor ease, 8 nor safety, 9 nor wealth, nor lienor, 
nor pleasure, as Moses, who refused to he the father of a 
great nation; 10 and Esther, not satisfied with having the 
honor and delights of being queen, when God's honor lay 
at stake : yea. he designs not an unworthy preservation of 
his own life. 11 

1 lCor.l:23. 2 Acts 9: 6. 3 Actsl9:19. * Jer. 7: 24. 

5 Gal. 1: 16. 6 Phil. 2: 27-30. 7 Acts 20: 23. 8 2 Cor. 11:27,28. 

9 1 Cor. 15: 30. 10 Ex. 32: 10. n Arts 20: 24. 

12 



138 A DISCOURSE OF 

The spirit of carnal comforts is gone in such a one's 
esteem ; as Esther could not enjoy herself under the thoughts 
of her people's ruin, though she was at the royal feast : 
and to such a one, the tickling comfort of such things affects 
not, but they are as the white of an egg ; yea, the unneces- 
sary conference about such things is tasteless, as meat to 
a sick man; and all because such a one is not his own 
any longer. 

When a man is not his own, he stands invested with many 
privileges. He has hereby a shelter against outward af- 
flictions : they sting not ; their profit reacheth farther than 
their pain, when a man (as in an ecstasy) is not his own : 
therefore Paul rejoiced in them. Persecutions on the out- 
ward man reach not him who is not his own, who is not at 
his own home ; as it was with David, when Saul's messen- 
gers came to kill him they found him not, but an image. 1 He 
can answer the accusations of guilt ; ' I am not my own, 
and therefore my own guilt must not stick on me.' 

When flesh and blood demands service, he can reply : ' I, 
who am not my own, am not debtor to the flesh.' When sin 
doth vex and molest by its pollutions in the flesh, he can say, 
' What do I here ? I am not my own. Let me go hence.' 
When spiritual pride solicits, he can reply, ' What I have is 
not my own.' And against carnal security he can say, ' I 
cannot maintain my own grace, nor restore myself when 
fallen ; and therefore am to work out my salvation with fear : 
I am not my own.' 

Against solicitude about future events and carking de- 
spondency, c I am not at my own disposal, and therefore such 
anxieties are to be none of my work.' Against the enchant- 
ing comforts of the flesh and the world he can say, as Bar- 
zillai did to David, i Can I hear the sound of such melodv ? 
What is such music to a dead man ? I am not my own.' 

Secondly, But whose am I, then ? will such a one say. 
This scripture shows, that he who is washed, sanctified, and 
justified, (as verse 11,) is God's; that is, by justification and 
sanctification he is translated from the dominion and natural 
right of corrupt self, to be the Lord's in body and spirit. As 
he did bear the corrupted image of the first Adam, so now 
he bears the spiritual image of the second. He is not his 
own as before he was, but is now, by grace, the peculiar 
property of God. 

1 1 Sam. 19: 16. 



GLORIFYING GOD, 189 

The nature of which may be more distinctly understood 
by considering these three particulars, namely : — 

I. What this peculiar property is, and wherein it lies. 

II. How came it to pass, and was effected. 

III. How the truth, fulness, entireness, and excellency of 

it, arc demonstrated and held forth in the scriptures. 

I. What this property is. 

It is a property which stands distinguished from the 

property which God has in the common state of man- 
kind upon the whole earth i l it is a property which stands 
in opposition to estrangement; 2 in opposition to that which 
is another's; 3 and in opposition to former unsuitableness,' 
and enmity : 5 so that a justified- person is peculiarly, inti- 
mately, entirely, complacently, and fully the Lord's. 

II. This property came to pass, and was effected, 1. By 
the free, deliberate, gracious choice of God ; and therefore 
they are called God's elect ; 6 which choice was made with 
respect to Christ. 7 2. By giving these elect to Christ s and 
so being Christ's, they are God's : ° and 3. By Christ's me- 
diation and advocateship : whereby He takes away all that 
which necessarily hindered the effecting of this property, 
satisfying the justice of God, and removing out of the way 
that pollution and enmity, which stood between the righteous 
and holy God and defiled sinners, by the price and sprink- 
ling of his own blood. 10 

He sends forth the gospel, inviting all persons to apply to 
themselves, by faith, the virtue and end of his death ; u and 
assuring them that a covenant is made betwixt God and 
sinners, and confirmed in his blood. 12 He gives faith to ap- 
ply the same, 13 opening the understanding to receive it. 14 lie 
reneweth the heart through his Spirit, and rendereth it suita- 
ble and subject to the laws and state of this appropriation to 
God. 1 ' He presents those whom he has thus redeemed to 
his Father, 16 bequeathing them to him as his own, to be kept 
from evil. 17 The Father accepteth of these chosen and re- 
deemed ones, 18 and thereupon saith, These are mine.™ 

l Ex. 19: 5. 2 Eph. 2: 12, 19, compared with Lev. 24: 22. 

8 Hos. 3: 3. 4 Ezek. 16: 8. * Col. 1: 21. 6 Rom. 8: 33. 

* Eph. 1: 4. * John 17: 6. 9 1 Cor. 3: 23. John 17: 10. 

i° 1 Cor. G: 20. Eph. 2: 13—10. » Mark 16: 15, 16. Acta 13: 38, 39. 

12 Heb.9:14,15. l3 Acts 14:27. Eph 2:8. ,4 Luke 24: 45. Acts 16: 14. 
15 Eph. 4: 22—24. 1 Pet 1: 2, and from verse 14 to 19. Eph. I: 4. 
18 1 Pet. 3: 18. Col. 1: 22. " John 17: 11, 15. 25. 

13 Eph. 1: 6. 19 Mai. 3: 17. 



140 A DISCOURSE OF 

III. The truth, fulness, entireness, and excellency of this 
property is set forth in the scriptures by divers sorts of re- 
semblances, which have a most appropriating nature, and 
endearing influence, amongst men in this world ; which are 
comprehended chiefly under three heads : — 

1. Resemblances which concern the property of estate. 

2. Resemblances which concern a property in things that 
betoken labor, care, and skill in the proprietor, to manage 
them. 

3. Resemblances which concern the property of natural 
relations. 

1. In allusion to the property of estate among men, the peo- 
ple of God, and so every regenerate person is called the in- 
heritance of God, 1 which notes the settled part of an estate ; 
as in Naboth's case ; 2 the habitation of God, 3 noting constancy 
of residence, John viii. 35, "the servant abideth not in the 
house forever, but the son abideth ever;" the temple of God, 4 
noting sacred converse with God, 5 and divine presence, 6 and 
great, stately magnificence, 7 where God is said to dwell and 
walk, 3 and reign ; 9 the peculiar treasure of God, 10 noting the 
delightful part of an estate; the jewels of God, 11 noting their 
precious esteem and value ; and in general, the portion of 
God, 12 which compriseth the whole of an estate. 13 

2. In allusion to the property of things, wherein the skill, 
labor and care of the proprietor is employed, a regenerate 
person is called, a creature which God has formed for him- 
self; 14 God's building; 15 God's workmanship; 10 all which do 
set out the freeness of God's grace, and man's inability and 
impossibility to regenerate himself, or add one cubit to his own 
stature. Also, God's husbandry, 17 noting God's mindfulness, 
care and (as it were) laborious hands towards his people : and 
thus they are called his vineyard ; 1S noting peculiarness and 
delight ; 19 and his garden, 20 made for retired delight and fa- 
miliar use. To which may be added that they are called his 
flock, 21 noting care of them, provision, and security for them. 

3. In allusion to the property of natural relations, a re- 
generate person is called the spouse of Christ, and is said to 
be married unto God, 22 noting love and familiarity, and affec- 

1 Psalm 33: 12. 2 1 Kings 21: 3. 3 Eph. 2: 22. 4 2 Cor. 6: 16. 

1 Psalm 27:4. 6 Hag. 2: 7, 9. 7 Lnke21:5. 8 2 Cor. 6:16. 

9 Psalm 11: 4. 10 Ex. 19: 5. " Mai. 3: 17. 1- Dent. 32: 9. 

13 Luke 15: 12. 14 Isa. 43: 21. * 1 Cor. 3: 9. 16 Eph. 2: 10. 

» 1 Cor. 3: 9. ' 18 Jer. 12: 10. 19 I<a. 5: 1, 2. etc. 20 Cant. 4: 12. 

21 1 Pet. 5: 2. Acts 20: 28. 22 Cant. 4: 12. Jer. 3: 14. Isa. 62: 5. 



GLORIFYING GOD. Ill 

donate remembrance j the Sou of God, and his child, 1 yea, 
as a sucking child, casJ on God for relief, 9 shadowing out his 
tender respect to his people; his body in Christ, and so ac- 
counted as his flesh and his bone ; : and the apple of his i 
noting his sympathy with his people. 4 

Now walk about this city of God, tell the towers thereof, 

mark well her bulwarks, consider her palace.-, and the excel- 
lencies of being the peculiar property of God ; who will be 
the guide of liis people even unto death, 5 and so bring them 
to glory. 6 

Hence for trial whether I am God's, let me see what an- 
swerable effect this appropriated relation to God doth work, 
declaring I am his, by my appropriating Ilim to be mine. 7 
To this end, I would ask myself, 

Do I give my consent, and render up myself to be the 
Lord's ; and (as it were) subscribe it with my hand, and 
change my name upon it ? which are the tokens of con- 
firmation of consent, and translation of property, 8 and change 
of condition. 

Do I comply with God's method in making this purchase to 
himself by Jesus Christ, 9 accounting the gospel of God, declar- 
ing salvation by Christ, worthy of all acceptation ? 10 

Do I put a value on this peculiar relation to God, own it 
with open profession, as they did, Ezra v. 11, saying, " We 
are the servants of the living God ? " and by faith shelter- 
ing under it, and saying with them in Isa. lxiii. 19, "We are 
thine," etc. 

Do I improve it, humbly, and reverently, and thankfully, 
saying, as David did, " Who am I, O Lord, God ? " etc. 2 
Sam. vii. 18 — 24. Do I present myself to God as one that 
is k 'made alive from the dead? 11 renouncing all other de- 
fence ; u and walking worthy of God, who has called a vile 
sinner out of his own pollution, to the household of God ? u 

As for the privileges of them who are thus the property 
and possession of an infinite, glorious God, who is he 
that is able to number the dust thereof, or bring an ac- 
count of the sands of that sea ! The whole earth is full of 
that glory of God which shines upon his people as their in- 

1 Ex. 4: 22. Jcr. 31: 20. " Isa. 49: 15, 16. 3 Eph. 5: 30. 

4 Zech. 2: 8. 5 Psalm 48: 13, 14. ■ Psalm 73: 24. 

7 Hos. 2: 23. 8 Isa. 44: 5, compared with Jer. 32: 10. 

9 Matt. 17: 5. 10 1 Tim. 1: 11, 15. » Rom. 6: 13. 

12 Hos. 14: 3. 13 1 Thess. 2: 12. Eph. 2: 19. 

12* 



142 A DISCOURSE OF 

terest, unto which every particular person of that number is 
entitled. But for the better access, with good welcome, to this 
glorious feast, it is needful to see whether the wedding gar- 
ment be on, or no ; which brings in the third general head. 

Thirdly, That true Christians ought to know this their 
renewed state, that they are not their own, but God's ; which 
knowledge seems to have these steps, or rather parts, 
included in it : A discerning and understanding of the 
excellency of such a state ; 1 an inward persuasion of the 
possibility of an interest in such a state ; 2 and an exercise 
of faith, engaging the heart to lay claim to, be posssesed of, 
and actually and altogether enjoy, an interest therein. 3 

The means of this knowledge are chiefly, the Word and 
Spirit of God, 4 prayer, 5 serious deliberation, meditation, and 
application. 6 

The evidences which declare a person to be the Lord's 
are the echoings back of the soul to Him in the warmth of 
his own grace and love ; wherein God draws the soul to own 
him in a way suitable to his owning of such a person to be 
his ; stamping his own image there, and giving it life to act 
in a genuine, true, and proportionable method towards God 
again. Which appears, 

1. In that mutual avouchment mentioned in Deut. xxvi. 
16 — 20, according to the terms of the covenant of grace, "I 
will give them a heart to know me, that I am the Lord; and 
they shall be my people, and I will be their God ; and they 
shall return unto me with their whole heart : 7 As this is the 
ground of those expressions in the scriptures, wherein the 
people of God have echoed back their faith and hope in him, 
by the same manner of expressions to him, as he useth to them. 

As God has chosen them, Mark xiii. 20, they choose 
God ; 8 and the things that please him. 9 God calls them his 
inheritance, 10 and they call him their inheritance. 11 God 
calls them his habitation ; 12 and they call him their habita- 
tion, and dwelling-place. 13 God dwelleth in them, and they 
in him. 14 God walks in them ; I5 and they walk in his 

1 1 Cor. 2: 12, 14. 2 Isa. 55: 6. Joel 2: 19. 

3 1 John 5: 20. John 20: 28. Heb. 11: 13. 

4 John 20: 31. 16: 8, 13, 14. 1 Cor. 2: 12. 

5 Psalm 143: 8. Prov. 2: 3 — 5. Job 34: 32. 

6 Psalm 143: 5. 1 Tim. 4: 15. 2 Tim. 2: 7. Psalm 104: 34. 

7 Jcr. 24: 7. 32: 38. b Josh. 34: 15: 22. 9 Isa. 56: 4. 
10 Psalm 33: 12. » Psalm 16: 5. 12 Eph. 2: 22. 
13 Psalm 71: 3, and 90: 1. u 1 John 4: 13. 15 2 Cor. 6: 16. 



GLORIFYING QOl). 1 18 

name; 1 they walk with God. a They are precious to God, 3 
and the Lord is precious to them. 4 They are God's por- 
tion : B and God is theirs. 6 

God loves them, 7 they love him. 8 

In these and in many other respects, they bear the image 
of God, and therein do evidence that they are his, and he 
theirs. Let the heart examine itself, whether these proper- 
ty s of the image of God be stamped there or i 

2. It appears in complying with God's aim and method 
in managing that peculiar interest and property in which he 
owns them, he commands, and they obey; he reproves, and 
they take reproof; he threatens, and they fear; he chasti 
and they accept the punishment of their iniquities ; he 
speaks, and they hear; lie promises, and they believe : and 
thus they show that they are his, and lie theirs. Let the 
heart examine itself, whether there be this compliance with 
the mind and will of God, or not. 9 

3. It appears in answering the duty of that relation in 
which they stand to God. They are the spouse, and He 
the husband ; they the children, He the Father ; they the 
flock, He the Shepherd ; they the husbandry, He the hus- 
bandman ; they the workmanship, He the worker ; they the 
clay, He the potter : each relation imports the duty of them 
who are thus related unto God: all which administers mat- 
ter for several queries by way of trial, whether God be mine, 
and I am his ? If I am his, he must necessarily be mine, 
according to the tenor of the covenant. And therefore let 
me propose some questions to my own soul, arising from the 
former considerations, that I may know I am my own no 
longer, but the Lord's; and that he is mine. 

For making way to these queries it is to be considered, 
that the scriptures -peak of several states of mankind in the 
world ; as, a state of innocency, 10 a state of sin and death, 11 
and a state of redemption and pardon through grace ; 12 and 
thence cometh a state of renewing and sanctification, 13 which 
issues from Christ's redemption," and so lodge- a soul in 
this propriety of being God's peculiar people, showing forth 
his praises : i5 and the Holy God is not ashamed to be called 
their GodJ6 

1 Zech. 10: 12. 2 Gen. 5: 24. 3 ha. 43: 4. 4 1 P< t. 2. 7. 

5 Deut.32:9. 6 Lam. 3: 24. 7 Psalm 146: 8. B Rom. 8: 28. 

9 Isa. 55:3,4. 10 Keel. 7: 29. ]1 Rom. 5: 12. lfl Eph. 1: 7. 

13 Eph. 4: 24. 5:8. 14 Tit. 2: 14. ,5 1 Pet. 2: 9. 16 Heb.11:l6. 



144 A DISCGtRSE OF 

The two first of these relate to all men universally ; but 
all of them relate to them who arrive at this peculiar 
interest in God. 

The New Testament speaks but little about the primitive 
innocency ; only glancing at it by implication, under the 
words of straying ; l seeking that which was lost ; a being 
alienated from the life of God, 3 and such like ; and treats 
chiefly and most directly of the others, namely, sin, redemp- 
tion, and holiness. This is that which the Spirit is pro- 
mised to convince the world of ; 4 the state of sin under 
unbelief, and of redemption and righteousness by Christ, 
crucified and risen, who testified and assured, by his going 
to his Father, that he had obtained eternal redemption ; 5 
and the state of the conquest over the Prince of this world, 
who works in the children of disobedience, 6 and thereby free- 
dom to serve God in holiness and righteousness. 7 

This is also set forth in Eph. ii. The state of sin and 
death in verses 1, 2, 3, 12 ; of redemption, verses 4, 5, 6 ; 
and of holiness, verses 21, 22. And all briefly put together 
in Eph. 5, 3. "Ye were sometimes darkness, but now 
are ye light in the Lord : walk as children of light." 

From the consideration of each of these, there follow 
divers questions for the trying of the state of the soul, and 
knowing in what plight it now stands. Indeed, the glory of 
primitive innocency is outshone by the superabundant grace 
and image of Christ ; 8 as the glory of the second temple 
exceeded the glory of the first : 9 yet the losing of that is 
much to be bewailed, because w r e did so sinfully lose it. 

Now, then, O my soul, canst thou take up Ezekiel's 
lamentation over Tyrus, " Thou hast been in Eden, the 
garden of God, and wast perfect in thy w r ays, but thine heart 
was lifted up," etc. 10 And mourn as David mourned for the 
death of Jonathan and Saul, though access was thereby made 
to his own advancement : " The beauty of Israel is slain. 
How are the mighty fallen ; the shield of the mighty is vilely 
cast away ! " n And lament, How is the gold of primitive 
innocency become dim ! And how is mankind that was 
purer than snow, now become blacker than a coal ! as Jere- 
miah lamented over Jerusalem ? 12 Canst thou say, Alas ! I 

1 1 Pet. 2: 25. 2 Luke 19: 10. 3 Eph. 4: 18. 
4 John 16, 8. 5 Heb. 9: 12. 6 Heb. 10: 12, 13. Luke 10: 19. 
* Luke 1: 74, 75. 8 1 Cor. 15: 47 — 19. 9 Hag. 2: 9. 

10 Ezek. 27: 2, and 28: 2—15. " 2 Sam. 1: 19—21. n Lam. 4: 1— S. 



GLORIFYING cop. 143 

tin become vile : 1 u In me, thai is in my fl< Bh, dwelleth no 
ft tiling;"- do truth, wisdom, or righteousness, and my 
nature is only evil, and thai continually 

Dost thou consider the nature of thy sinfulness ; and how 
it doth pollute, weaken, deceive, and enslave thee? More 
distinctly, 

Dost thou know, that thou earnest up and down in thy 
nature the seed- of all sins ; that all the idolatry. BU] erstition, 
blasphemy : all the murders, uncleanness, \ iolence, injurious- 
ness, hatred, envy, cruelty, falsehood, etc. that ever thou 
didst read of in the scriptures,. or other histories; or that 
ever thine ears heard, or thine eyes saw ; that the seed and 
spiee of it all is in thine own heart? that all those black 
lists enumerated in Rom. i. 29, to the end, Rom. iii. 11, ete. 

1 Cor. vi. 9, 10, Gal. v. 19—21, Eph. ii. 12, and iv. 18—19, 

2 Tim. iii. 2 — 4, and other places, thy nature is in some de- 
gree or other tainted with ? And because this may seem 
harsh and strange, 

Consider, as far as any man has the nature of Adam, he 
has the corruption of that nature ; and as far as all are equal 
in their descent from Adam, so far are all equal in the cor- 
ruption of that descent : " All guilty ; every mouth must 
be stopped; death came upon all," Rom. iii. 19, and v. 
12, 18. 

Consider, that though restraining grace, or mortifying 
grace, may curb, weaken, and subdue sinful corruption, yet 
it still retains its dwelling in the flesh ; 4 and though the 
righteousness of Christ be imputed to the person, yet the 
corrupt nature of that person has still a subsistence, till cor- 
ruption put on incorruption ; till which time 1 corrupt nature 
loseth not its sinfulness, but its dominion. k - () wretched 
man that I am ! " said Raul, "who shall deliver me from the 
body of this death?" On this account, the state of the 
person may be changed, but corrupt nature still remains. 

Consider, the natural seed of every sin is a departure 
from God, and a violation of his authority ; and therefore Ik 4 
that is guilty of one sin violates the authority of God, and 
has a seminal guilt of all sin. 5 As he who has one true 
grace has the seed of all ; because it shows he i< united to 
Chrh-t, and one with him in spirit, who is the Fountain of all 

l Job 40: 4. 2 Rom. 7: IS. 3 Gen. 6: 5. 

4 Rom. 7: 20, 25. 5 James 2: 10, 11. 



146 A DISCOURSE OF 

grace. So, wherever we see sin, we see the corruption and 
pollution of our nature, that dwelleth in us. 

Natural conscience, education, constitution, profession of 
religion, moral considerations of fear, shame, or the like, may 
curb the working of corruption in some measure, but cannot 
root out the pollution of sin from the heart. 

But more particularly in reference to God. Is there not 
great ignorance and contempt of Him ? Are not sins of 
thought more slighted than sins visible ? And is there not 
more shame for a small miscarriage in the sight of man, 
than a great miscarriage in the sight of God? What cus- 
tomary ignorance of all his attributes ! How little is He the 
object of the heart's love, desire, esteem, and meditation ! 
Is not the heart more intent on other things ? How little is 
He the motive and end of what we do ! Is serving and 
pleasing Him the heart's design in all things ? In worship, is 
not the heart formal, cold and wandering ? Are not convic- 
tions stifled, and the impressions of the word of God quickly 
gone ? Is there serious preparation for the ordinances 
and due meditation afterwards ? Is the heart glad, when 
the word reproves, as well as when it hears words of com- 
fort ? 

As for men : Is not the course of the world, the opinions 
of others, and their esteem, of great account and value with 
me ? Are their sins my burden ? Is there not towards them 
envy, hatred, want of sympathy, evil surmises, etc. ? 

As for my own soul : Is not my heart rash, vain, incon- 
siderate ; my understanding dark ; my affections loose and 
scattered ; my memory slippery, and all out of order ? Dost 
thou not discern the weakening nature of sin, that it sucks 
the strength of the soul ; the deceitfulness of it ; the deaden- 
ing, blinding, and destructive nature of it ; and the perfec- 
tion of divine wrath that attends it ? 

And now doth all this make thee, O my soul, cry out, 
wretched man that I am ! And that thou art a burden to 
thyself! as Paul and Job did ? * Dost thou see a bottomless 
deceit and desolation in thy nature, as it is in itself corrupt- 
ed, and as that corruption is by circumstances aggravated ? 
And being totally without refuge, dost thou lay the hope of 
thy help upon a mighty Redeemer? If so, thou hast at- 
tained one round, at least, of that blessed ladder, which leads 

1 Rom. 7: 24. Job 7: 20. 



GLORIFYING con. 1 17 

thee up to the fruition of that renewed state, in which thou 
art God's, and He is thine. 1 

In Laying hold on Christ lor redemption, do I sec f cannot 
help myself, nor any other creature help me? s That none 
can redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom lor him ; •' 
that salvation is only of God, 4 of his arm? 5 That in &ee 
mercy lie sent Christ to save?' 3 That Christ undertook this 
salvation, and performed it ; 7 and that I am partaker of it by 
mere faith? 8 Do I lay my whole weight upon this Saviour? 9 
Doth my heart account him willing, able, and faithful?" 
Do I rejoice in hope, and join with the redeemed in praise 
on this account? 11 

Fourthly, Upon this relief by Christ, do I yet go farther, 
(as Esther did, to execute the children of Ilaman after he 
was dead,) even to see the power of the prince of this world 
broken in me ? What is the temper and employment of a 
redeemed soul, in his justified and renewed state ? It is to 
show forth the virtue of Him who hath called us from dark- 
ness to light ; from sin and bondage, to freedom, holiness, 
and righteousness. 12 And Oh ! that this might be and appear 
in my soul ! To that end, let my heart suffer, and attend to 
some questions concerning this ; whereby I may further 
know that I am the Lord's, and not my own. 

Do I account Christ only to be the fountain and author of 
renewing and holiness ; and so cast myself by faith on Him 
for it, as well as for pardon ; seeing I cannot think a thought, 
nor will nor do any good thing of myself, 13 being created in 
Christ thereto, 14 and quickened therein by him ? 

Is the communion of the Father and the Son, in a way of 
light and leading by his Spirit, the element I breathe in? 
So that holiness is my choice, and sweet delight, and my 
conversation in heaven ? l0 

Do I make designs against the old man. and cherish the 
new, by the lusting of the Spirit against the flesh? 16 coun- 
termining the devices of Satan ; ,: watching and trying all 
means, 18 to increase holiness ? Do I choose and aim at 

i Job 33: 23—30. 1 Kin<rs 8: 38, 39. * Isa 03: 5. 

3 Psalm 49: 7. 4 Hofl 13: 9. 10. 14: 3. 5 [sa. 63: 5. 

6 John 3: 16. * Heb. 10: 7, 10. 9:12. B Eph. 2: fi 

9 Isa. 64: 8. x I-;'. 63: 9. I Thess. 5: 24. 

11 Rom. 5: 2. Rev. 5: 9—13. » Luke 1: 75. 

w 2 Cor. 3: 5. Phil. 2: 13. 14 Eph. 2: 10. 

15 Rom. 7: 22. Phil. 3: 10, 14, 20. * Gal. 5: 17. etc. 

H2 Cor. 2:11. M PhiLft 11. 



148 A DISCOURSE OF 

pleasing God in what I do, as well as do the thing that is 
good in itself ? l 

In matters of worship : Do I aim to converse indeed 
with God himself, as having to do with his presence, 2 acting 
therein to him ? 3 

Do I labor to snck sanctified light, and real holiness, out 
of the ordinances, which are the fatness of God's house, 4 and 
tend to make the new creature nourish ? 5 Do I bow down 
and comply with every word of God submitting and assent- 
ing to its full scope ? 6 Do I roll my eye towards God ; 
eyeing his wisdom, goodness, and righteousness, in natural 
things, 7 and in things that providentially come to pass ? 8 
This is to walk with God. 

Do I study and contrive which way I may advance the 
interest of Christ and his gospel, in the station and capacity 
in which He hath set me, 9 and to prevent the disparagement 
of it ? 10 Do I consider, whether I go forward or backward 
in the concerns of holiness ? Whether there be growth or 
not, declining or not ? n Am I gaining and reaching for- 
ward ? 12 If so, it shows my centre is above. 

In these, and such like things, the mutual relation betwixt 
God and a regenerate person doth shine forth. They are 
tokens that God dwelleth in him, and he in God. Such a 
one, because he has betaken himself to the laws, company 
and mode of the new creation, is in a new state, created of 
God in Christ, translated to a state of life in God. 

A Christian's renewed state obliges him to glorify God in 
body and spirit ; and he doth so. 

1. When the soul doth acknowledge God to be that 
which he is in himself; of him, and through him, and to 
him, are all things ; to him be glory forever and ever, 
amen : 13 that He is infinitely excellent in His nature, and 
in His works, and in His sovereignty. 14 

2. When God is acknowledged to be that which He is to 
us in Jesus Christ ; 15 and gloriiied through Christ ? 16 

3. When the spirit of a man within him, and the outward 

1 I>a. 56: 4. Col. 1: 10, 11. 2 2 Cor. 2: 17. 3 Col. 3: 17. 
4 Psalm 36: 8. 5 Psalm 92: 13. 6 Psalm 119: 127, 128. 

" 1 Cor. 10: 31. 8 2 Cor. 7: 6. 2 Tim. 4: 17. Acts 12: 23. 

9 1 Cor. 9: 15, 19, 23. 1° 1 Pet 2: 12. Tit, 2: 10. 

11 Heb. 5: 12. w Phil. 3: 13. 2 Thess. 1: 3. 

13 Rom. 11: 36. u 1 Chron. 29: 11—13. 

15 Ex. 33: 18, 19, and 34: 6, 7. 2 Cor. 4: 6. 
w 1 Cor. 1:30,31. I Pet. 4: 11. 



OltOBHTING <iOD. 119 

man also (concurring according t<> his capacity) d<> ad to- 
wards God, in an inward complying with, ; i n < 1 actual demon- 
stration of, the glorious nature, will 9 and grace of God: which 
is called a walking worthy of ( rod ; ! that is to Bay, conforma- 
ble to him, (as the word worth)' seems to import ; comparing 
Eph. v. 1, with Eph. iv. 1 — 4,) bearing his image; and 
thereby manifesting what God is to as, and what we are to 
Him ; namely, that God is ours, and we are his. Now this act- 
ing towards God has a great variety of exercises in belie\ era ; 
for a believer is the temple of God, in which his glory is 
more excellently displayed than in all the world besides. 

A believer, by his peculiar nearness to, and interest in 
God, is capacitated, as a living and active agent, to glorify 
God, 2 more than another who is only passive, as Pharaoh 
was. 3 So then, whosoever is not his own, but the Lord's, and 
the Lord is his, Ins proper element is, to be glorifying God in 
all things, 4 as appears in these and the like particulars. 

To reverence and adore the majesty of God in all his 
holy attributes and works, as Nehemiah, 5 Jeremiah, 6 and 
Daniel ; 7 and as David, and all the people of God, w r ere 
wont to do : to be abased before God, in the sense of our 
disproportion and corruption ; as Abraham, 8 Jacob, 9 Ezra, 10 
and Daniel n were : to justify God in all his dealings, 12 as 
Daniel, with confession and imploring mercy : 13 

To honor the Father in the Son, 14 and through him : 15 to 
own God in Christ as the fountain of every grace, 16 and every 
good and perfect gift, 17 and the establisher and perfecter of 
it : 18 thine is the kingdom, power and glory, amen. 

To adore Him in his word, 19 believing it : to worship Him 
with reverence ; 20 and to own Him in his people,- 1 and them 
for his sake: to abound with the gracious fruits of righteous- 
ness, which are by Jesus Christ to the praise and glory of 
God; 22 and to confess Christ before men,' 3 Buffering re- 
proach, 24 and death for his sake.-' 5 

i 1 Thcss. 2: 12. Col. 1: 10. 2 1 Peter 2: 5—9. Lev. 10:3. 

3 Ex. 14: 17. 4 1 Cor. 10: 31. 5 Nch. 9: 6. G Jer. 32: 17—19. 

7 Dan. 9: 4, etc. 8 Gen. 18: 27. 9 Gen. 32: 10. 10 Ezra 9. 15. 
11 Dan. 9: 7. ,2 Job 36: 3. Psalm 51: 4. * 3 Dan. 9:4, IS, 19. 

1* John 5: 23. ,5 1 Peter 4: 11. »■ 1 Peter 5: 10. 

1 7 James 1: 17. 1 Peter 4: 11. 13 Matt. G: 18. 

19 2 Chron. 20: 18. Isa. 39: 8. Psalm 56: 4. 119: 106. 

20 Psalm 86: 8—10. 99: 9. 21 Gal. 1: 24. Matt. 10: 24. 
22 John 15: 11. Phil. 1:11. 23 Matt. 10: 32, 33. 

2i 1 Peter 4: 14. 26 John 21: 19. 

13 



150 A DISCOURSE OF 

And now, Oh that God would lead my heart through all 
these things by an impartial search, and cause me to com- 
pare my present frame of heart and resolutions, with these 
particular truths of his own word, and bring me up to glorify 
Him in my body and spirit, which I trust are his. 

Let me yet farther demand of myself a few questions, 
which relate to the glorifying of God in my soul, and in my 
walk. 

Is it so with me that I cannot be quiet ; but restless under 
guilt, and distance from God ? l Do I cry, Return, O Lord ; 2 
Why art thou a stranger ? 3 Do I importunately long after 
more heart-impressions of the knowledge of God, crying out, 
Show me thy glory ? 4 Is the whole will of God my de- 
light, and his word my daily diet ? 5 Do I praise, 6 and 
acknowledge God in daily providences? 7 not repining at 
his discipline, 8 but being brought nearer to Him by calam- 
ities ? 9 

Do I own him so, that the hiding of his face doth darken 
all other comforts to me ; 10 and his presence support and 
satisfy in the absence of earthly comforts ; u as it was with 
David at Ziklag ? 12 Do I so approve myself to God, that 
the approbation, esteem, or praise of man doth rather vex 
than please me when my conscience within me doth smite 
me ? 13 In case of guilt and fear, do I cast myself upon the 
boundless mercy of God, declared in Christ, to be pardoned, 
and revived, as a sufficient remedy ? 14 

Do I thirst after pure communion with God, so that my 
heart cries out, " Oh that my ways were directed to keep thy 
statutes ! " Psa. cxix. 5. Oh that thou wert, etc. Cantic. 
viii. 1. with all manner of other fervent desires and groans? 
Psa. xxxviii. 9. 

These and such like workings do testify, that God is the 
highest good, and the centre of blessedness, and infinitely 
glorious. And in these spiritual operations a soul doth de- 
clare and witness him to be so ; and therein doth evidence 
that God is his, and he is God's ; and hereby he is highly 
privileged. God now will not take things at the worst with 
him. 15 When he is at a loss, mercy will surprise, and de- 

1 Psalm 32: 3—5. 2 Isa. 63: 17. 3 Jer. 14: 8. 

4 Ex. 33: 18. 34: 6. 5 Jer. 15: 16. Job 23: 12. 6 Psalm 50: 23. 

7 Gen. 48: 15. Prov. 3: 6. 8 Psalm 119: 75. 9 Isa. 1*/: 7. 

10 Psalm 77: 2. " Psalm 142: 5. 12 1 Sam. 30: 6. 

13 2 Cor. 10: 18. Rom. 2: 29. 14 2 Cor. 12: 9, 15 Matt. 26:40, 41. 



GLORIFYING GOD. L51 

liverance overtake him: 1 When dull, his ears shall be 
awakened to hear as the learned. 9 He shall be kept night 
and day. 3 Christ will trim and dress him by the word, and 
teach him by His Spirit.' And he will be tenderly affected 
towards him, and be with him in trouble. 5 And ( i<><! will 
not be ashamed to be called his God. 8 He will wipe away 
his tears, 7 pardon his sins, and justify his person in the per- 
son of Christ: 8 who will confess him to be his at the last 
day; 1 ' where he shall Bee his face with joy, 10 and i 
with the Lord. 11 

Happy is the people that is in such a case ; yea. happy is 
the people, happy is every particular person, whose God if 
the Lord. Psa. cxliv. 15. 

1 Ezek. 30: 21. 2 Isa. 50: 4. 3 Isa. 27: 3. 

4 Eph. 5: 26. 5 Isa. 43: 2—7. (i Heb. 11: 16. 

7 Rev. 7: 17. 8 Isa. 45: 25. 9 Rev. 3: 5. 

10 Job 33: 26. u 1 Thess. 4: 17. 



152 



HOW TO PURSUE A LAWFUL THING 
LAWFULLY. 

A Conflict of Mind. 

How soon did Peter, James, and John forget the glorious 
transfiguration, and Ml asleep when the temptation came ! 
How soon is light gone, when the sun is eclipsed ! so it is 
with me. When shall I have skill to discern and resist the 
beginnings of decay? How soon doth a troop of armed 
men break in at an unguarded gap ! I cannot thrust them 
out again myself; but will rather go to Him who hath his 
bridle in their jaws, and can both turn them back, and also 
lock the door against them. O that I could lift up a Je- 
hoshaphat's cry to the Lord of hosts ! Then would the day 
clear up, and I should yet see my salvation come flying 
upon the wings of the wind, and mounted upon the clouds 
for my help. I have one hard task to do : but, O thou to 
whom nothing is hard, reveal thy will, and conquer mine. 
My sore task and travail is this ; how to retain a close appli- 
cation of union with God in Christ, so as that I may prevent 
the loss of tender converse, and holy, reverential familiarity 
and intercourse with him. An immoderate minding of some- 
what, in itself (for ought I can yet see) not unlawful, has been 
a thorn in my flesh for several days, which has spent much 
venom against my inward man ; but I must not submit to 
any adversary : there is no safety but in overcoming. Help 
me thoroughly, O my God, at this plunge, and thou shalt 
have the honor of the day. I would fain inquire into my 
soul, how I contracted this distemper : And, upon inquiry, I 
find it had such steps as these. 

I was withdrawn, I know not how, from the tender sight 
of Christ ; and influences of spiritual warmth being damped, 
night came upon me, and I considered it not. My soul fell 
asleep, but without any refreshment : I awaked a little 
now and then, but slumber benumbed me that I could not 
rise up. I would fain have cried out for help, but my words 
were like an arrow without feathers, that would not reach 
the mark ; and all this while an earthly and momentary mat- 
ter of delight solicited my fancy, and proffered some pleasure 



A CONFLICT OF MIND. 158 

to my mind; and. as I judged it. not, as to the matter of it, 
evil, I gave way, till it had eaten into mysoul like a canker, 
and began to build its nesl in the very place which I bad 
lately prepared and devoted tor the entertainment of Christ 

only. Jt was 9, and would not vidd to Christ's su- 

premacy in my affections, but still offered some moon-Ii 
satisfaction to my mind, instead of the withdrawn beams of 
the sun : and when Christ whispered some conviction into 
my heart, and made it ache, and raised some small yearn] 
after him, this glow-worm glistered upon me ; and though it 
had neither light nor heat, yet it would offer itself as a com- 
petent balance, instead of the true spiritual light and warmth 
which I lately had, but now find was retired at a distance 
from me, for my trial and exercise. I discerned the snare, 
but herein lay my strait : my judgment told me, the matter 
itself was necessary, and that a moderate diligence might be 
employed about it ; but neither that, nor anything else must 
dethrone Christ from the chief seat in my affections ; but I 
found it had so twisted itself into my fancy, that I knew not 
how to use my thoughts about it with that moderation which 
would consist with Christ's supreme government and sw T ay 
in my inmost delight and affections. So that, how to divide 
betw r een the matter itself, and my excessive affection to it ; 
to do the one, and guard against the other ; here lay the 
difficulty. 

The matter, on wdiich this inordinate fancy fed itself, was 
something relating to literature ; which I judged, in its own 
nature, lawful and useful. To remedy which distemper, I 
poured out my complaint before the Lord, and began to 
muse the following meditations : — 

Be silent, O clamorous, unreasonable sense ! Thy fancy 
is a poisonous delectation : the object of thy aim is mo- 
mentary; thy workings are carnal, proud, impetuous, and 
tyrannous ; spawned from the serpent in the day that it said 
to Eve, Ye shall be as gods. Thou didst then feed thy ex- 
pectation with forbidden fruit; thou forsookesl divine coun- 
sel, lost thy aim, and hast beeu ever since crawling upon thy 
belly to the earth, and feeding upon the dust. There lies 
something in that first promise, "The seed of the woman 
shall bruise the serpent's head." to loose me, in the inward 
man, from the bonds of thy captivity: that blessed word 
began the second creation, sentenced carnal sense and the 
way of its reason, and brought in the draught of a new 

13* 



154 HOW TO PURSUE 

created state, in which the image of Christ is renewed upon 
the soul ; swaying it by spiritual knowledge and understand- 
ing, into a state of righteousness and holiness ; and giving it 
dominion, by a holy force and rightful power, to subject all 
human sense and reason, knowledge, understanding, and the 
delights thereof, to the authority and full command of the 
wisdom of the Spirit. And therefore I would wait for some 
dew from this wisdom that is from above, to water and guide 
:me : and by this conduct I would lay down these grounds. 

How to pursue a lawful thing lawfully. 

Every pursuit of a lawful thing is so far sinful to me, as 
the pursuit thereof doth tend to distract my mind in prayer 
and converse with God; and that which makes the mind of 
Christ in his word, and godly conference, unrelishable to me. 
That which tends to contract and confine my view of the 
worth of Christ, my need of him, and relation to him. 
That which hinders me from a penitent and vigorous watch- 
fulness and resistance against the defiling nature of my heart- 
corruptions. That which weakens the exercise of my faith 
about the reality of divine truths, God's all-seeing eye, the 
constant necessity of holiness in my heart and in my aim ; 
unlimited and free resignation to the will of God, and a hun- 
gering expectation of the appearing of Christ, and my own 
dissolution. That which offers violence to all or any Chris- 
tian duty, which takes off my desire to the ordinances, and 
profitable use of them, as if the time were lost which is 
spent in such work. That which cares not for an exercise of 
faith, and prayer for a blessing upon it, and direction and 
assistance from God in it. Every one of these doth declare 
itself so far to be a work of the flesh,- and not wrought in 
God. For if I am wholly redeemed, then nothing in me is 
to be any longer at my natural command ; but my whole self, 
and all my ways and concernments do come under the laws 
of the Spirit of life which is in Christ. In all which fore- 
mentioned particulars, I have found guilt sliding in upon 
me with a strong hand. 

In the next place, I would consider what civil actions, 
labors, or studies may be truly accounted lawful, and within 
that command and permission in the fourth commandment, 
" Six days shalt thou labor, and do all that thou hast to do." 
And upon inquiry they appear to be these. Whatsoever 



A LAWFUL THING LAWFULLY, 155 

may conduce to administer any true Datura] good to the body, 
estate, or credit of myself or others, which lies included in 
all the precepts of the Becond table. 1 Whatsoever may con- 
duce to polish true reason, and free the discerning faculty of 

the mind from that captivity, darkness, and infirmity con- 
tracted by the tall of our first parents, which disabled the 
understanding, in a great measure, to discern between things 

truly morally good and evil; without which the discursive 

faculty of the soul cannot act within itself, or be capable of 
any impressions for its good from the words of others ; the 
freeing of which would tend much to make way for the en- 
trance of gracious convictions where the word of God is 
heard, or leave that soul more wilfully inexcusable : which 
seems to be hinted in Isa. xliv. 18,19, where the prophet 
speaks of the irrationality of idol-worship, as that which 
contradicts the true use even of natural reason. And in 
order hereunto, whatsoever may help reason in its exercise ; 
as conference with, and reading the labors of such whom 
God hath fitted, in any measure, for repairing the sad breach 
made on human nature. Whatsoever may conduce to the 
help of memory ; as the art of reading and writing ; which 
art w r e find justified in the scriptures. 2 Whatsoever may 
make the offices of humanity, as well as Christianity, more 
communicable ; as the knowledge of tongues ; the ordinary 
learning of which seems to be justified by the extraordinary 
gift of tongues, whereby the apostles were enabled to dis- 
pense the gospel in the world : whatsoever also may tend to 
the understanding of the letter of the scriptures ; as the 
knowledge especially of the original tongues. And whatso- 
ever may facilitate the lawful employments of men ; as 
arithmetic, navigation, and other arts and manufactures; not 
properly serving the bare lust, but the true advantage, and 
lawful comfort and conveniency, of the rational creature: 
which curious manufactures and ingenious arts were used at 
the making of the Mosaical tabernacle, and Solomon's 
temple, in the fitting and adorning of them for that use for 
which they were intended of God. 

Having weighed the lawfulness of the forcmentioned par- 
ticulars, among which, one of those cases doth (at present, 
more than the rest) concern my own consideration, and 
further inquiry ; I would therefore next consider, how a 

1 Ex. 20: 12—17. * Dan. 9: 2. Deut. 6: 9. 



156 HOW TO PURSUE 

natural, or civil lawful action may be done lawfully : so as 
not to prejudice the inward man, by grieving the Spirit in 
the manner of a man's labor, care, pains, diligence, or study ; 
or in his utmost end and design therein. A right spiritual 
end in natural and moral actions, lies in these respects: — 

1. When I serve the will of God intentionally, in obey- 
ing that law of nature which God has subjected me to, as in 
eating, drinking, physic, clothing, sleep. 1 

2. When I design more dutiful service to the will and 
glory of God by my health, estate, credit, and endowment 
of mind, than I could attain unto without those means. 2 

3. When the will and glory of God are so far the soul 
of my natural and civil actions and designs, that my delight 
does not terminate in the things done or enjoyed ; but passing 
through them, takes up its rest in the enjoying, pleasing, and 
serving God therein. 3 

For the better regulating the mind in such actions and 
labors in pursuance of a right end, be attentive to these 
rules and ends. Consider, 

1. A Christian life lies in union with Christ, and not in 
any of the things or enjoyments here below. 

2. They are such things and enjoyments which the ene- 
mies of God may be employed in, and possessed of in this 
world, as well as the servants of God. 

And, therefore, that such common work may be done 
spiritually, 

1. Sanctify it by prayer. 4 

2. Eely on God by faith for such abilities of body or 
mind, as are suitable to such work. 

3. Let not the thoughts be inordinately devoured in it ; 
and to that end, 

4. Force the heart to read and meditate the scriptures 
with more seriousness, and labor for an inward value thereof, 
above any other labor or study. 

5. Judge not any useful labor, work, or study, to be ma- 
terially, or in itself evil, because your inordinate affection 
about it is sinful : but rather regulate your desires to mod- 
eration, and a right end in what you do. 

6. Be contented in the measure of your attainment. 

7. View the excellency of God in Christ appearing in all 

1 1 Tim. 4: 3, 4. 1 Cor. 10: 31. 2 Prov. 3: 9. 

3 1 Chron. 29: 9. 4 1 Tim. 4: 5. Ruth 2: 4. 



A LAWFUL THBffG LAWFULLY. L57 

created skill, excellency and worth : strive to wind ap your 
heart by creature-excellencies, instantly to a more actual en- 
joyment of them as his gift only, and go to himself as the 
fountain of perfection. 

Thus have I been wrestling with a monster bred in my 
own bowels; but, Captain of my salvation, breathe truth, 
faith, virtue, and blessing, upon these meditations; or else 
all my labor is lost, and my inquiry into my disease Bpent 
in vain. k * Every good and perfect gift comes down from 
above," and therefore, my eyes are to the hills, from whence 
comes my help. Let not the poor return ashamed of his 
hope : I leave my success upon thy hands, who hast re- 
deemed me, O Lord God of truth. 

And seeing a gracious God hath favored me thus far, to 
drill me along ; sometimes wooing, sometimes reproving, 
sometimes comforting, and confirming me in the various roll- 
ings of my heart in these meditations, from time to time ; I 
would now rest upon Him, to make good all the movings 
of His spirit in my heart, and to issue forth from himself 
through Christ, by his Spirit, a suitable supply, according as 
my daily need, and proneness to decay, do require ; that it 
may be evidenced to my soul, that these meditations (how 
much frailty soever I have been laden with under them) 
were not mere human labor and intention ; but that the 
breath of the Holy Spirit has been, in some true measure, 
present. And therefore, O thou, who art the God of all my 
hope, be pleased to cause all that love to, and desire after, 
pure union and fellowship with thee in Christ, which has 
been at any time working towards thee in any of these 
meditations, and at any other time, to be purged from my 
personal guilt that cleaves to the best thing which I do : 
and vouchsafe a return of my desires from the throne of 
grace, as far as any exercise of spirit in me has been ac- 
ceptable in thy sight, through my dear Redeemer : that 
whether I sleep or wake, the groanings of thy Spirit may 
be acceptable before thee day and night ; and though my 
heart be vile, yet let it still be as a, garden watered by thy 
hand, a soul which the Lord careth for. 

Bring me through the great waters, that one day I 
may be utterly and eternally delivered from every evil 
work, inward and outward, and purely serve, live to, 
and glorify Thee ; being presented spotless through Christ. 
among that glorious liost of the "spirits of just men mad" 
perfect," 



158 



LETTERS. 



A. D. 1638.— 7b D. B. 

Your letter I very gladly received ; and it is no small 
delight to me, to see that your eyes are towards heaven, and 
your desires to the fear of your Maker. Before, I was 
hopeful, hut now I am confident. And, seeing the beautiful 
light of the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ has enlightened 
your soul, and purified your conscience from dead works, to 
serve the living God ; seeing it is thus, fear not, only be 
strong. Be thrifty of your time, exact in your course, 
spiritual in your aim, bearing about with you an undaunted 
triumph in believing. One thing among the rest, not un- 
needful, I must advise you ; that you set yourself to pluck 
up your spirits, and be of a lively heart ; getting what 
necessary insight into the world you can, that you may the 
better get within the humors of all people, in order to under - 
stand the better how to carry yourself, in what condition of 
life soever you shall be in, to your own comfort, and the 
shunning of unnecessary reproach or contempt ; but, con- 
trarily, obtaining credit and esteem of all, even of them that 
are without. The exercise of worldly wisdom, policy, skill, 
and utmost endeavor, must be used, albeit not depended on ; 
nor the corruptions of the world practised. Something I do 
the rather write this way, as conceiving some other course of 
life will befall you ere long, than at present you are in; yet 
still keep close to Almighty God; and whereas others, in 
their course on earth, and creditable conversation here, do 
sacrifice to their wits, boldness, contrivance, and the like ; do 
you endeavor and pray, that you may sacrifice to the will, 
wisdom, and assistance of God in heaven, made over to 
you in the merits of Christ undoubtedly. The Lord be with 
us, and grant us unearthly hearts and conversations, whatever 
may hereafter betide us. There is no rock like our Rock, 
no god like our God. To him I commit myself and you, 
for an everlasting support. 



LETT] 1 V» 



1689.— To I). B. 

Having such an opportunity, I could nol bul write a few 
lines: and all that I have to Bay is; Casl yourself upon 
God in Jesus Christ. Ea1 his flesh, and drink his blood ; 
be with him upon the cross, be with him ascended into 
heaven : by the one, to be discharged from the clamor 
the law, and the guiltiness of conscience; by the other, to 
triumph in assurance 1 of victory over sin and sorrow. This 
implanting into the Son by faith : this life of faith is fed by 
meditation on the mystery, with prayer, attentive reading 
and hearing, good conference with experienced b< liei 
and the use of the sacraments. These things I believe your 
heart doth ponder ; but we are bound to put one another in 
mind. And next, seek and strive in your service to be 
laborious, faithful, and discreet ; separate not the service of 
Christ from the service of your master ; serve one in the 
other ; strive mightily to temper them well one with the 
other ; and then, whatsoever you put your hand unto, do it 
with all your might, etc. 

1646.— To B. J.'D. 

I know you are under great suffering, and what work of 
comfort or counsel to write to you I know not ; only this, 
that "it is of the Lord." As Jonah was not to be angry, 
you are not to be tortured with grief — that one, that two 
gourds are withered together. Morality and reason plead 
for patience and content, but your interest in the Maker and 
Heir of all things may truly argue for it much more. He 
that gave you them at first, has now called them away. The 
Giver lives, though the gift be withdrawn. The Comforter 
is the same, and the substance, though the comfort be re- 
moved, and the leaves fallen. Haply your thoughts are — 
Where are they ? whither gone? at rest, or not? Consider 
whose eye saw them before they were formed in the womb. 
The everlasting decree had disposed of them before they 
were committed to your hands : leave the thought of them 
to the Lord, whose free love is like a mighty dt en. And, 
oh ! that the course which the Lord takes to mind us thai t\ic 
end of all things is at hand, might powerfully dislodge our 
hopes, peace, and comfort from an earthly resl in low tran- 
sient things, and fix them on him who is the M Bock 



160 LETTERS. 

ages ; " which we are called to do upon every hand. I trust 
that outstretched hand of his will do it ; that at length we 
may know no persons according to the flesh, nor things 
neither. Then alone in enjoying the Lord shall you and I 
enjoy ourselves, and the reality of every good thing, when 
the shadows flee away. Is not your heavenly Father better 
than ten sons, and his teaching rod than their presence ? 
Consider it. Inquire his will, bless his name, comfort your 
poor wife, and do not charge God foolishly. Seek God's 
face the more, and let your conversation mount higher, and 
then your loss will be repaid, and God will show you his in- 
tent in this. This only, as a fellow-feeler of your cross, I 
present unto you, etc. 

1648.— To B.J. D. 

Considering mine own weakness, and remembering you 
are also in the body ; and withal, considering that mutual 
communications, by pen or speech, are required to help each 
other, and stir up one another to the relish and practice of 
Christian walking, I thought fit (in mere discharge of duty) 
to present my present thoughts to you. And that I may 
declare more distinctly the state of my soul to you, I pass 
by the general complainings and bewailings which often- 
times arise from pretended religious compliment, or carnal 
sloth, to a more particular account. 

I find the reputation of the world doth much beguile me ; 
especially when I have to do with men neither grossly 
wicked, nor strictly good. And I find, intimacy with these 
men, and in their actions of indifferency, doth plague my 
soul with such coldness, dryness, and guilt, that (methinks) 
sometimes I part from them, as Tamar from Amnon, full of 
inward shame and disquiet. Let me at any time go out of 
God's sight to act things, though indifferent in their nature, 
yet when conscience calls for any spiritual duty or discourse, 
methinks it is like the voice that came to Adam in the cool 
of the day. I find also a strange influence upon my heart 
from the ways of coveting any worldly advantage. TVell 
was this wickedness called idolatry ; for it doth importunately 
draw my eye and heart from the Lord, to admire and covet 
after vain enjoyments, and yet I cannot say that to this day 
I ever wanted any good thing. This I find to be both a de- 
ceiving and unprofitable lust, spoiling the comfort of my soul, 



UBTTSBS. 161 

and not enriching my body, nor even adding one cubit to my 
stature. 

Nothing dot 1 1 ever make the though! of any misery 
miserable to me, bu1 the reflectinga of a betrayed heart ; 
and they Btare upon me, as Delilah did on Samson, when his 
Btrength was gone, and the Philistines were upon him ; and 
then my soul is as weak as water. Bui should I go to num- 
ber ii}) the deceits that are within me, they are innumera- 
ble; only it is some ease, now and then, to open the im- 
posthume, as to God, so also to good men. I know not how 
tar your sense of the same or other infirmities may oppress 
yon. bat I know you wear about with you the same nature 
as I do, though, I hope, more enabled to strive against the 
stream of nature than I am. But whatever strength you 
have. 1 am sure it comes from above ; and, indeed, I must 
needs say, (and my heart rejoieeth at the mention,) that I 
am not forsaken in this conflict. My Redeemer is strong, 
and mine infirmities are judged already, and shall not afflict 
me forever. I am directed to a sure remedy, in Psalm 
xxxvii. o — 5, and shall lay it before you, if your disease be 
mine, namely, " to trust in the Lord in well-doing only ; de- 
light in the Lord, and commit your way unto him." Let 
this physic have its due work, and the truth of God is en- 
gaged for a recovery. Sometimes I am (as it were) ven- 
turing on such a resignment as this trusting, delighting, and 
committing doth signify ; and, methinks, the very resolution 
so to do, as a beam of God's power and love, doth rejoice 
my heart in hope. Doubtless it is a heavenly life to give 
up all our delight and trust, and commit all our way unto the 
Lord. And doubtless that is the way to fight against our 
lusts with much advantage, when we are got above them ; 
and in our resignment to God, have engaged him in the 
quarrel. I know the advantage is very great, by some little 
sparks of it. And I never knew that I got power against 
one lust of heart, or evil way, but by being firsl (as it were) 
dissolved into the Lord, and then appearing against it in his 
power. When God and I are made one through Christ in 
opposition to my own sins, and I am no longer mine own, 
but his, and my faith is acting through this union ; then, I 
may, yea and must .-ay, do the Btrength and snares of tempta- 
tion vanish at his appearing: And happy is that soul that 
appears in no other strength but his. But while 1 am 
writing, my heart doth accuse my pen for hinting an enjoy - 

14 



162 LETTERS. 

ment beyond what I have. I can only say this ; something 
of this sort I have already tasted, and more I earnestly hope 
for, as the only remedy for a weak, captivated, dismayed 
heart. I pray, let me hear how it fareth with you ; that we 
may, in the Lord, help one another, and build up one an- 
other in our most holy faith, etc. 

1649.— To C. A. D. 

Yom friendly and Christian line$ I received, and do with 
you rejoice in the happiness of your nearest relation. The 
happiness is the greater, in that your principles accord, as 
well as your affections ; which renders your condition a 
more lively type of the conjugal interest betwixt Christ and 
a believer. You say, your experience tells you it is good to 
wait on God : do not forget the same experience in other 
cases. Abound in spiritual affections to one another as 
much as you can, and in ingenuous marriage-love and affec- 
tions also ; but beware of that which is inordinate ; remem- 
bering that they that marry are to be as if they married not. 
It may be you may find new temptations in your new con- 
dition, and God teaching you thereby : if so, there is still 
cause of thankfulness ; for God has many ways, in variety 
of trials, to teach, to purge, and comfort. 

I perceive there is that within you which takes little con- 
tent in high speculations without power. I think it is no 
small happiness to be preserved from the vain, unsavory pro- 
fession of the times, consisting more in phrase of words, 
human wit, and pride, than power of religion. Doubtless, 
the ancient path of sincerity, humility, patience, love, and 
fruits of thankfulness, is the best path for saints to travel in ; 
waiting on God for more enlarged hearts and enlightened 
eyes, both to know and to do his will with more integrity. 
Ah ! the purity and spirituality of the apostles' writings, and 
the sermons of Christ ! There is no cavilling, no jeering ; 
but bowels of tenderness, and awful, sweet reverence in the 
things of God. Let your thoughts still fix there. Asso- 
ciate with the most tender and sincere, and you shall escape 
the destructive influence of that seemingly religious loose- 
ness and atheism, which has (I fear) cankered many a hope- 
ful professor. As for my own part, I am tossed to and fro 
under temptations, yet reaping this fruit thereby, to thirst 
the more after the day of Christ's appearance, and my de- 
liverance, etc. 



LETTERS. L68 



L652. — To B. I). 



Con has been pleased to put as, and continue us long 
asunder, and we have had our rariet} of* troubles, dang 

; temptations; and in regard we can conic no nearer each 
other, let us speak at a distance. By the view I have t. 
of earthly matters, and earthly conditions, I can say, with 
my whole heart, the besl refreshment is vexation of spirit; 
and if so, then comes this rebuke ; how have J laid out my 
money for that which is not bread! God has delivered me 
from being a burden to my friends, and yet my body and 
soul (ah ! when will it once be !) are not given up as a sac- 
rifice to him only. 

Brother, I perceive so much of the unsearchable pity of 
the Lord to me, that I know not what to do or say. Oh, 
that my heart might break into a thousand pieces, and be 
made up again by the Spirit of renewing! What a misery 
is it to desire that that might live, which is nailed to the 
cross, and crucified. ! Oh, for the newness of the Spirit, to 
see the new creature, that old things might pass away from 
one end of the soul unto the other ! I tremble at the men- 
tion of these words, because the power is of God ; and the 
dark design of the lust within me labors to destroy my in- 
terest, ruin my peace, and make me unserviceable to my 
God, to whom I am going. Oh, that I could, in the power 
of my dear Saviour, raise my head so high out of the misery 
that easily besets me, as to peep forth into the fresh air of a 
whole resignment, even of whatsoever I have, am, or do ex- 
pect, unto God, through Christ, nakedly and unreservedly ! 
You are on my heart before the Lord, that you may be 
saved from yourself and the world, from your fears, com- 
forts, and hopes; that the kingdom of our dear Lord may 
exalt itself exceedingly in your heart. The Lord himself 
be your guide ; to whom, alone, I can adventure to surren- 
der you. I am again returning from my wife's grave, into 
to seek mine own, etc. 

1C52.— To D. II. 

Dear Sister : I account it my duty to hold up an in- 
tercourse of writing to you, as opportunity and time will 
permit ; as being sensible, in some measure, of the state of 

your inward man. My words have no quickening life ; the 



164 LETTERS. 

bodily speech of Christ himself could not bestow it without 
the Spirit, much less the pen of a sinful worm, but I will 
send you where this ware is to be sold at a cheap rate, if 
compliments of self-preparedness (for I can call it no other) 
do not hinder, (Isa. lv. 1,) " Buy wine and milk without 
money." Say it over again ; " without money." What ? is 
this the voice of your beloved ? and without price." Is it 
indeed without price ? How hard is this one lesson, " with- 
out price ! " My guilt can press me down ; but can it press 
Him down who bears up heaven and earth ? Can my weak- 
ness hinder me from lying down ? There is nothing more 
acceptable to him, than for me, as it were, to lie down upon 
him ; you can never lean too hard upon your well-beloved. 
Nothing troubles him, but when you lean from him, Cant, 
viii. 5. This is true gospel- venture : 

Hence comes quickening, in the sweet season of God's 
making. How easy, think you, it were for you to come to 
Christ, if you were without spot ! But are you not ashamed 
to let Christ wash you from all your sins ? You are loath 
to trouble him so far, and yet you can never please him 
better. The greater the work of his redemption, the greater 
is his glory. This rather wins his heart to you, than ren- 
ders you unpleasing or unwelcome to him. It is his own 
bewailing language, " Ye will not come to me," etc. If you 
will look up to the " brazen serpent," you will quickly know 
freedom. There is no condition you can be in, but you are 
well enough, if Christ be with you. That is the reason 
that neither water nor fire, etc., can destroy. He is willing, 
be you so, too. Trust him, and see if any condition what- 
soever comes short of a remedy, where " Christ is all in 
all ; " all for pardon, all for purging, all for advice, rest, and 
satisfaction. In a few days you and my vail will be gone, 
and we shall see what now we desire to believe. I leave 
you and my little child to the teaching and blessing of the 
Lord, etc. 

1653.— To S. D. H. 

Your long, large, and savory letter I received. I dis- 
cern your thirst in those lines ; you are not alone in that 
agony. You know that thirst is a restless want of refreshing 
liquor; and you know the promise calls them who are in 
such a state, blessed ; although as yet satisfaction be not 



LSTTEB 1611 

given. If a restless desire be a blessing, why Bhould not 
God have die honor of thai dispensation? Although the 
refreshing presence of Christ, our bridegroom, has nol yet 
entered the chambers of your sensible enjoyment, yet re- 
member again, u Blessed arc they thai thirst ; fur they >hall 
be filled." Your whole letter doth argue thirst ; and there- 
fore you are truly blessed : And therefore you -hall be 
satisfied. I could write many complaining lines 5 yea,] can 
never complain too much of my vile, sinful body and mind, 
but in doing that, I must not blemish the free grace of God 
in Christ; yea, I am sorry I have done it too much wrong 
hitherto. Devils are against it, flesh and blood are against 
it ; and shall I be so too ? Let me embrace it rather ; never 
mourning from God, but mourning towards him. in hope, 
above hope. Study that word. Yield not to weariness nor 
faintness in mind : through faith and patience you shall in- 
herit it, as well as the rest of Abraham's daughters before 
you. Was not Christ in an agony ? Did not he thirst ? 
Was not even he straitened ? And must not you be con- 
formable ? I say again ; Rejoice in it, and hold the "hem 
of his garment," and you will find by and by the " virtue 
come forth." He is not deaf; He cannot deny himself; He 
does hear, and the " vision will speak." You do well to 
pump the wells of salvation, the scriptures. The night will 
. not long last, the day is coming; the "prince of this world is 
judged," and " thy God reigneth." I shall one day (I doubt 
not) with thee sing "the song of the Lamb," beyond sin, 
fear, and sorrow. I leave thee to his care and love, which 
is far beyond mine. I must end, but I leave you to him 
whose words are life indeed. Farewell, in the bowels of 
Christ, to whom I commit you, etc. 

1G53.— To D. II. 

The conveniency of this opportunity inciteth me to write 
to you by this bearer, who ha- promised to see my child. I 
ire that as she grows in capacity, you would be dropping 
in somewhat of spiritual thing- for her tender thoughts to 
feed upon. Though I cannot, at this distance, see your 
yet I know your temptations in some part, and your de- 
liverance too ; which will, in due time, appear. It ifl good 
to be carried about, and disposed of by the hand of the Lord. 
It is a blessed thing, and will one day appear so, to rejoice 

14* 



166 LETTERS. 

in the pleasure of the Lord, let him do with a poor creature 
what he will, so he make you more like himself, by uns elfin g 
you from carnal desires, and carnal discontents and fears, 
and transplanting you into the power and joy of believing ; 
enabling you really to account the offer of eternal kindness 
in Christ more glory than any earthly dying comfort : And 
certainly where the comforts here can comfort but little, the 
crosses here can cross but little ; and shortly farewell both. 
Let your heart dwell much on the free covenant of grace in 
Christ, by prayer and meditation ; and let your sins come 
into the same room with you, while you are on that inquiry. 
When I am at a dead lift, then sometimes the Spirit of God 
takes me up (as it were) into the arms of that covenant 
which he made with Christ concerning me, and every one 
who is not a wilful unbeliever. And the very glance of that 
salvation wrought by the Lord, concerning which I am only 
to believe, sets me again upon my feet. I have no other 
task but to be willing in truth to receive it, and I shall have 
it : and if so, then you and I shall be sure never to want 
any one good thing. Evil (as evil from the Lord) cannot 
befall us. You will then see the favor of God to you in 
earthly seeming frowns. No such favor as to be dead to 
sensible comforts, and as a stranger to earthly carnal con- 
tentments, though this be tedious to flesh and blood ; yet 
let it more appear that our rest is not in these things, but in 
the everliving God: He is your teacher, and I leave you 
to Him. 



1653.— To J. EL 

I niYE received your letter, and return you thanks for 
your love. Should I give you a draught of my soul, it 
would pity you to see it. Did not the mercy of God pre- 
vent, you would find me in the four last vices mentioned in 
Rom. i. But, blessed be the Lord, that though there be a 
law in my members warring and tormenting, I have in the 
Lord a little strength, and do sometimes view deliverance. 
I have too long had too much content in a carnal walking 
with God, and have been satisfied too much in a carnal ap- 
pearance that way. There is a way to live with God in the 
world, but it is of his own making ; no visible or sensible 
thing can contribute anything to it : and yet I cannot die to 
these vain helps. I shall never understand the word " all" 



LETTBBS. 1 67 

in Matt xxu. 87, till the power of the fcfosl High doth 
bear it in. Ah, when will it once be? Certainly that grt 
will one day be very glorious, that hath attended a poor, dis- 
ced heart, through the uncomfortable Bights and abundant 

frailties of this corrupt, mortal condition. One pure. >eri- 

ous, true, long-breathed desire of Christ's appearing, gives 

sonic deliverance. Oh, the glory of that day, when the real 
appearing shall be, and all filthy garments removed, and 
every filthy smell be forever removed also ! Let us be found 

among those that wait for redemption, and wail waking. 
Truly, brother, we cannot word out one to another what i- 
the state, duties, and privileges, of an interest in a new life, 
and hope of glory. The best means, the best words, yea, 
even the scriptures (though not so in themselves) are de- 
ceiving to a deceived, carnal heart. Such a heart will turn 
the most spiritual things into flesh, and so feed upon them to 
satisfy carnal fancy. Oh that you and I could start up from 
fleshly consultation, and listen quietly, leisurely, and yet 
greedily, and obediently, to the mere dictate of the blessed 
Spirit in his word ! Your opportunity and mine of honoring 
God in the world is very far spent already. I desire that 
you be for God not only in season, but out of season also. 
Dear brother, I thought fit to give you a touch of what my 
poor heart desires to be wrestling in. I know you mind the 
same thing ; go on therein, and prosper : there is no other 
way of peace, but this. I am rude ; but I had rather write 
my heart than my invention. "Well, brother, I thank you 
for your good wishes to my poor child : I trust the Lord will 
vouchsafe her truth of grace, and shed abroad his mercy and 
love into her heart, and make it appear, as her tender year- 
will bear, and manifest the same. Remember me to my 
sister, your wife, whom I have reason also to honor, for the 
goodness of God to her ; and to you, I trust in her. I should 
rejoice to hear that some others of your and my poor friends 
had the Lord alone for their whole desire and portion : I 
would rather remember such in my prayers, than in my 
letter. Remember my love to your sister 1)., who is, 1 am 
much assured, more precious in God'.- eye than in her own. 
I leave all new- to the bearer, and commend the remem- 
brance of you to the Lord, and remain, etc. 



168 LETTERS* 



1655.— To S. D. H. 

I trust you find the word of God faithful, and creating 
faithfulness also (in the seed thereof) in your heart. I 
think this is a true maxim : one deliberate, unfeigned 
desire of perfect righteousness in Christ is the very fruit 
of the perfect righteousness of Christ ; for who can 
bring a clean thing out of an unclean, but he alone, by 
his creating power and love ? Nourish faith tenderly and 
humbly; try the Lord's will, and your own heart; prize 
that faith which puts forward all grace, which takes away 
discouragement from mortification, and makes it as the gate 
of heaven, and the hope of glory ; for the apostle found it so, 
and pleads it just so to us, Rom. vi. 5 — 8, etc. You have 
a good guide ; give him the honor solely to order your heart 
and way ; his voice is heard in the scripture. Believe not 
your own heart or reason against the naked word of truth. 
In cases of scruple, or discouragement of any sort, give 
yourself the same counsel as by the scriptures you would 
give to another person in the same case. The work of faith 
is not to make sin no sin ; but because of sin, to bring the 
soul to the Redeemer ; that the more sin it sees, it may the 
more abhor it, and triumph the more, in consideration that 
grace doth superabound through a Mediator. And here lies 
the mystery of faith ; the Lord himself has it, and you and 
I shall say, We have enough. 

1655.— To D. H. 

Since God made your heart pant after that world, in 
which dwell immortality and righteousness, did you ever 
upon good ground (as you thought) judge any earthly 
friend a certain comfort ? If so, then has God, by remov- 
ing your sister, and now by removing your father, wit- 
nessed the contrary. If you apprehend them as uncertain, 
then why are they not sufficiently repaid in the fatherly 
respect of an unchangeable God ? Is it good to be angry 
with the Lord ? Do not study to be more sour and melan- 
choly, but how to be more holy, self-denying, and cheerful, 
on the account of a freely tendered covenant ; rejoicing that 
shortly you shall take your journey, and go visit your 
father, your sister, etc., and all the saints since the beginning. 
Never study how to dishonor the nature of the gospel, by a 



us. 

sullen, carnal pleading of Belf-unworthin688. The troth is, 
sell' is not worthy to plead, bul Christ is worthy to be loved 
an«! believed; and thai is enough. If He will love me, 
heal me, purge me, Bave me, convince me, accept me freely, 
why should I be offended at it. and say, He cannot mean as 
the gospel speaks? My sullen heart is never broken till 
almighty con vincemenl from God break my hear! to powder; 
till that time I play with melancholy, under a kind ofves 
delight. I trust God will teach you some good Lesson by 
this visitation, that the knowledge of God in Christ, and the 
knowledge of your heart may he wisely taken in. J earnestly 
desire this, that all your thoughts may he brought over to a 
subjection to the good pleasure of God, with delight in thai 
good pleasure of his, and be thankful that you have an op- 
portunity to honor him, by saying and thinking that all his 
ways are mercy and truth. Though he take to himself your 
nearest friends, you do them so much right as to rejoice that 
they reign ; though you mourn after your beloved, and long 
to leave yourself, that you may love him the better. I leave 
you to Him who can and will do more in his love and pity, 
than I or any friend can do. Rejoice in hope, lift up your 
head, the days of your lamentation are almost ended. I 
remain yours, in the fellow-feeling of the same burden, etc. 

1655.— To A. C. 

I ENJOY my health, through the goodness of God, as yet. 
My soul has many dry and sapless seasons, many drowsy 
and fainty qualms, through the deceit of heart that lies root- 
ed within; but yet the Lord cries ever and anon in my ear, 
" I am God, and I change not : therefore thou art not con- 
sumed." I find it desperately dangerous to set my reason 
and sen?e in dispute with that which faith only Bhould take 
up, I mean reconcilement upon free terms. If there be any 
sinfulness, or any aggravation of sin which seems to except 
itself from the remedy of Christ's atonement, then certainly 
the eye of faith takes not up its mark as it should do. If 
there be any weakness and darkness, and the goul thinks to 
get over it without a humble resignation of the case to 
Christ for help, it will find the cure come badly on. A 
heart which would not have a liberty for sinning, can never 
engage in a free-hearted adventure on Christ too far for 
pardon and strength. Christ never refused any one Binner 



170 LETTERS* 

that came to him on earth, unless it were the mocking, 
treacherous, and spiteful Pharisee : and, therefore, I am 
bound to believe He hears and accepts every unfeigned re- 
quest, though hardness and darkness afflict. So that I am, 
with my lamenting after him, to rejoice that he is himself the 
corner-stone of that work in my heart, that yearns after him 
in a dry land. I recommend you to the Lord, etc. 

1655.— To A. C. 

I thought good to send you a few lines, which, while I 
am writing, serve instead of a conference : there only wants 
your answer to every sentence, and the mutual refreshing of 
your voice. I can, at a distance, guess at your thoughts ; I 
can also take refreshment in this, that the arm of the Lord, 
seen by you, or unseen, yet holds you, teacheth you, and is 
always near you. We are not to think the unchangeable 
God doth change as oft as we use to change. Not every 
cloud, nor all the clouds of the sky are able to hinder the 
course of the sun, because the sun is above them ; and so is 
the covenant of our peace above our darkness and weakness. 
A small matter (if seasons of weakness and dulness may be 
called so) is enough, when unbelief is cherished, to make as 
" much mischief in the soul, as a wolf among a flock of 
sheep. Indeed, every sin is hateful in the sight of God ; 
and a sluggish heart, that is rather prone continually to all 
that is evil, inwardly and outwardly, than inclined to good, 
is grievous to the Spirit of God : but this is perpetually the 
refuge, that God accounts the sinfulness of his people their 
sickness, not their state ; and to purge and cure them, He 
uses sometimes one means, and sometimes another ; witness 
Psalm lxxxix. 31 — 34, and Isa. xxvii. 8, 9. But still the 
covenant, being wholly of his contrivance, stands fixed in 
heaven ; and so doth Jesus Christ, who has both your 
nature, as much as if you yourself were there, and God's 
nature too, in one person, to preserve that covenant, in your 
stead, for your good. There is no creature-goodness of any 
sort soever, that prefers any person to an interest in that 
covenant ; because God showeth mercy to whom He will. 
And there is nothing essentially needful to give any one a 
right to apply this covenant, but a sense of necessity, and a 
willingness to accept it, and be saved by it only. As wicked 
people so fancy the way to heaven, as that they think they 



LBTTSBS. [71 

can obtain it, while they desire to keep their sins in their 
bosoms* and cannot hear of parting with then : bo, many 
gracious people, though beloved of God,cannoi imagine that 
eternal lite, being a blessing of that greatness, can h 
easily gotten as by believing only. Or if they grant ii i< 
to be had only by believing, yet they do so much look upon 
personal qualifications, by which to try their faith, that unless 
they he to such and such a degree, they think they have not 
faith. And when they have gol the degree they desire, they 
are as much to seek as before. And ail is, because God has 
left no such qualifications, as things that shall give rest to 
the soul : for they are but the garments of faith. That soul 
that is willing Christ should both save him and purge him, 
shall be saved and purged ; and God cannot but account him 
clean from condemning guilt. I hope you live in the study 
and consolation of these glad tidings of gospel-peace. I 
trust, also, that God has and does sanctify all his dispensa- 
tions to your heart, that you may be cheerful in believing, 
and fruitful in holiness, as one who is taught of the Lord : 
and thus commending you to the Lord, your rock, I rest, 
yours in truth and love, etc. 

1655.— To C. A. D. 

Yours of the 25th of September last I received, and do 
thank you for your Christian love and tenderness therein 
expressed, and for the heads of that searching, refreshing 
sermon : for, indeed, nothing can be refreshing, but what is 
searching and convincing. The virtue and the excellency 
of gospel-remedies can never be welcome, nor do their work, 
till they be. permitted to search and overcome; that truth 
may break forth, to victory, and there may be healing with- 
out putrefaction at the bottom. And when a poor soul 
cannot order his own distempers, yet then to consent to, and 
approve of, the sovereignty of the medicine and skill of the 
physician — Could I come up to that trust, faith, and resign- 
ment, I should then more magnify that grace, and be more 
fruitfully refreshed in the salvation of God. There is a 
pure relief in the gospel, conveyable only by the arm (the 
Spirit) of the Lord; but it is oftentimes, in a great measure, 
spoiled and defiled in a carnal way of endeavor to receive it. 
To entertain spiritual truths in the Spirit, and to be sub- 
jected to their law, and formed into their mould, complexion 



172 LETTERS. 

and constitution, this, I think, were religion indeed. For 
my own part, I view these things at such a distance, that 
sometimes I even doubt whether there be any more than 
notion left; or if more, what it is that holds up any con- 
nection betwixt my confused heart and that spiritual interest: 
I am carried up and down by Him as a lighted candle in a 
windy place, and its flame ever ready almost to flee from the 
wick, were it not preserved by the hollow of his hand. His 
discipline I cannot want, and live. And it is refreshment to 
me, that your heart is under a constant pursuit of that mark, 
for the prize of the high calling. Draw water still from the 
fountain as much as you can. Be a stranger to all instru- 
ments, means and helps, while you use them. Know none 
but God, taste none but Him in all the earth ; and remem- 
ber the galled feet of your fellow-travellers. I received a 
letter from Mr. Gr. I pray return the enclosed to him ; his 
advice is very savory. I think, indeed, Christ best approves 
of a holy latitude for affection and communion amongst his 
members. 

1657.— % D. H. 

Could I be more in the Spirit, I could then write with 
more freedom : but this I know, that if I and you have our 
faces towards Sion, we shall be brought thither at length. 
Our great work is to cease from ourselves, that the Spirit of 
Jesus Christ our Lord might have liberty to work in us, and 
for us. I know no such door to the Mediator as to be re- 
signed over to him, and to be yielded up to the salvation and 
power of free grace : it is the only wholesome food and 
physic of a sinner. AVhen the soul is widened by resigna- 
tion to him and self-abhorrency, then his naked redemption 
is sweet, welcome, and a soul-satisfying remedy. I oft see 
a glimmering of this, but my eye is weak ; yet such glim- 
merings tell me, that there, and there only, lie the first-fruits, 
and hope of glory. I had rather see God do a little in me, 
and for me, than do much myself; for God's little is infinite, 
and my much is nothing in his sight, for me to be accepted 
thereby. Therefore is faith the only key of all spiritual 
treasure which is hid in Christ, and in Him only. And by 
this going out of ourselves to Him, we are made his ; and 
himself, and his treasures of pardon, righteousness, wisdom, 
and perfection are made ours. Venture your prayers upon 



i i mots* 1 78 

him; though they seem to be casl away, after many d 

they will return. You can hardly find thai over Chrisl re- 
proved bis disciples for anything bul unbelief, or little faith; 

or for not suffering infants or others to come to him. Let 

all these things teach you and mo whal i- our chief duty. 

I leave yen to the Lord, remaining yours in truth and 
love, ete. 

1G58.— To B. D. 

Your two last letters have much refreshed me, because 1 
perceive it is not the compliment of invention, but the heart- 
raising Spirit of God has been favorable to you. Be crav- 
ing still, be thankful still, believe through the clouds. God 
has thus appeared that He may teach you how to live on 
Him when he appears less to sense : you are heir always to 
the same joy, and infinitely more, when under the saddest 
hours. Expect trials for every grace, especially for faith ; 
winter follows summer, but the end will be victory and 
peace ; of which you have had, I perceive, a taste. Covet 
Christ's image insatiably, and to be at his disposal univer- 
sally ; and let us bless his name night and day. I want a 
heart to bless God enough for his goodness to us : the day 
hastens, in which it will be done perfectly. I am in health 
of body, laboring under the shameful load of an evil heart ; 
yet in hope of victory, through Ilim who liveth forever to 
make intercession for them who desire to come to God 
through him only. Amongst all business, public or private, 
it is good for you and me to be watchful, to keep a constant 
motion upwards: Constant tenderness is a rich treasury. 
Grace is that incomparable endowment, enough to put a 
lustre upon every other requisite. What alliance is greater 
than to be allied in the communion of the Spirit ? J per- 
ceive God hath favored you with an affliction, I hope you 
will not go without the blessing of it. Be more importunate 
for a blessing, than anxious about the loss, or troubling your 
thoughts about persons or instruments, or about ftitun 
events; but commit yourself and estate, body and soul, to 
God, a< unto a faithful Creator, and rejoice in the hope of a 
better resurrection, and groan for nothing but the bod; 
sin, till it is groaned out of doors. 
15 



174 LETTEBS. 



1658.— To S. D. H. 



I am glad to see you strive to get up the hill, and that you 
take the right way. Go on, and prosper, he is near who 
justifieth you. Though he stands (as it were) behind the 
wall, he hears your request, and all your desire is before 
him : he himself has undertaken the whole. Light is sown 
for you, the harvest is coining : Lift up your head, your 
redemption is sure, and your water shall not fail. You can 
never lay too much burden on Christ ; he bears up the pil- 
lars of the earth, and has already borne your burden. The 
work is over with him, and shall be over with you too, 
shortly : Yet a litle while, and he that shall come will come, 
and will not tarry. You are not your own workmanship, but 
his : He has lifted up his hand to heaven, and sworn, that 
blessing, he will bless you, and shortly tread Satan, and 
every corruption under your feet. Cling about him, he will 
not shake you off; your prayers are heard, your person is 
accepted. Be not weary ; everlasting arms are under you, 
the battle you are in will prosper. The greatness of his 
power is not to amaze you, but to support you ; his righteous- 
ness is to justify you, that you may not fear your Judge, 
but reverence and love him who has washed you in his own 
blood : the business is done already, and now there is no re- 
voking of it. The more difficulties appear, the more you 
are to triumph in him who overcame by the blood of his 
cross, and will not leave you shelterless. He can teach you 
better than I ; I leave you to him. I perceive by your 
letter, that my dear friend R. M. is dead ; or rather now, I 
confidently believe, perfectly alive, beyond sin and toil. I 
know you are not wanting towards that poor child ; take 
her to heaven, as much as you can, along with you. Let 
us pray one for another, and we shall not seek that blessed 
face of his in vain. I might write much of my own leanness 
and unworthiness, and I would I could be more sensible of 
it, so as to lay my starved limbs on that free, heart-reviving, 
heart-renewing covenant of grace, confirmed in the person 
of a crucified and risen Redeemer, the fountain of acceptance, 
pardon, life, and health : In his hands I desire to leave you, 
and remain, etc. 



ill I i R8. 1 i 5 



L658.— To I). II. 



Si ch is our bodily condition, that we c.'iiinoi make up 
e distances, without the intervening of letters or friends; 
bat that communion which, I trust, we nave mutually 
(though under much darkness) with the Father and Son, by 
the Spirit of grace, needs no >\wh helps. I trusl our praj 
meet at a Bhorter cut, and that we strive together in 
same faith of the gospel. It may be you find yon hi 
much to do to keep your head above water: I find the 
same: I hear about the same body of death, and find the 
same contradiction in my corrupt and confused nature as 
you do. One Christian seems to outrun another, till God 
reveals the mischievous hell that dwells in our flesh. Then 
Paul himself will cry out. Oh wretched man that I am ! 
And Isaiah, that evangelical prophet, be forced to say, All 
our righteousness is as filthy rags. What are our poor 
glimmerings to the brightness of the Sun of righteousness : 
Were there not an equal relief in the Mediator for the 
youngest and the weakest of the flock, as for them who have 
long travelled in the profession of godliness, the accoutre- 
ments of the most experienced Christians would shrivel up 
and wither away ; and leave nothing behind in the soul, but 
such an outcry as that, " Who shall dwell with everlasting 
burnings?" But he that is in the "burning bush" keeps it 
from consuming. It was only the likeness of tin 4 Son of 
man that made the three children in Daniel walk up and 
down in the fire, safe from burning. " I will be with you, 
saith God, in the fire and in the water." His name is " Em- 
manuel, God with us." His covenant is free, the purpose of 
grace wonderful; his good-will ariseth only from himself, 
and will not, cannot change : and therefore the ons of Jacob 
are not consumed. We little think oftentimes (in our fear 
and discouragement) how far our weak prayers reach : they 
are like an arrow gone out of our sight, and we (many 
times) think them lost and forgot ; and consider not, that 
every dry groan and watery tear is put into the bottle, and 
winds up, through the ascending Virtue of the mediation of 
Him who is one with the Father, to the throne of acceptance* 
Let us comfort one another in this hope, that we may labor 
and travail hard, but not faint by the way. I remain yours 
in the highest bond, etc. 



176 LETTERS. 



1658.— To B. D. 

I received the sad news of my deceased sister ; blessed 
be the name of Him who was dead, and is alive, and will 
shortly cause the dead to come forth ! That will be a blessed 
day for all the redeemed to visit their precious kindred. And 
blessed be He, who has in any gracious manner watered 
your heart ; let him favorably add this also, " That upon all 
the glory there be a defence." This is by my precious 
friend, whom God has mightily rescued by his grace. I 
want nothing but more communion with that God, which you 
pant after; more faith, more trust and resting upon him, more 
satisfaction in him ; that I may say, and believe, and sing, 
" God is my portion." Will he not rend the heavens ? Will 
he not rend these hearts, and appear ; that the mountains of 
all our fears and disquiets " may skip like lambs before the 
presence of our God ? " When shall the promises be sub- 
stance, and a faithful, compassionate God be an abundant 
salvation ? Can the lowering face of an uncertain world, 
and the things thereof, make the promise and unchangeable 
good will of God of no effect ? Doth not he whisper through 
every dark cloud, and say, " Come up hither ? " The Lord 
open our ears to instruction, and let us rejoice to take our 
leave of that which will not profit. Every prayer we make 
saith, " We have chosen an invisible inheritance." Oh, 
what a glorious thing is faith at a desperate pinch ! Then 
is his throne high and lifted up, when Christ is in profit and 
loss, in life and death, the heart's advantage above these 
lower ebbings and flo wings. The Lord be with you, etc. 

1659.— To D. IT. 

Seeing our time here is a warfare, it is a comfort to per- 
ceive the Lord's presence with any poor soul, so as to make 
it stand out in hope and prayer, while temptations and cor- 
ruptions, like fiery darts, are flying thick on every side. It 
never goes desperately ill with those that travel towards 
Zion, and are acquainted with assaults from Satan, and heart- 
treachery from themselves, till they begin secretly to whisper 
rebellion against the covenant and law of God's grace, and 
say, " There is no help for me in God." David's excellency 
lay not so much in his being freer from sin and sinful mis- 



LKTTBB8. 177 

carriages than others ; but in this, thai he could not en- 
dure to say, or hear others Bay, of his soul, "There is 
no help for him in God," Psalm iii. 2, \lii., LO, and Ixxi. 
11. Thai was the anchor thai made him ride oul the 

Storms, and the rope that drew him up out of many a 

deep pit. Let as use the same mean- with reverence, and 
vet with freedom. God is a jealous God, and cannol endure 

to be accounted changeable, Jer. wxiii. 2 1 — 26. I !<• keeps 
both ends of the covenant, and will not give the glory of any 
part of that trust out of his own hands. Every desire, every 

thirst, and exercise of resolution or hope heavenwards, and 
every soul and body deliverance to such, ariseth from this, 

that God is faithful, 2 Thess. iii. 3, though our labor and 
prayer ought therein also to be employed, as the means 
which God has commanded on our part, for a closing with 
the efficacious virtue of his Spirit, by believing : whereby 
the force of Christ's death and resurrection becomes singly 
applicable to remove guilt, and confer a gracious conformity 
to his nature, and to the law of righteousness in the soul. I 
see you level at the right mark, and own your relief from 
the right place ; and why may I not say, you shall yet see 
greater things than these ? etc. 

1659.— To D. H. 

I perceive B. Cr. hath much trouble through indisposi- 
tion of body, and it is good it should be so, though disquiet- 
ing to the flesh; and you have a gracious share I perceive 
also. In such cases.it will be some help to turn our thoughts 
from poring upon the affliction itself, and endeavor, by all 
means, to .find out the lesson which God is teaching thereby ; 
for that is properly and truly our work, in thai Christ hath 
borne the curse for us: he hath taken away the wrathful 
penalty, and left only an awakening and instructive nature 
in all the afflictions that his people meet with, Isa. xwii. 7 — 
9, and lxiii. 9, Psal. lxxxix. 30, 31, 32, etc. Oh that we could 
believe this, and redeem our precious time, to learn the will 
of God, and to be fashioned more to his likeness under earthly 
fears or burdens ! A- for Betty's recreation, I would have 
her, amongst other things, learn to sing; thai she may use the 
glorious ordinance of singing Psalms with the more delight. 
I must, as often as I can, put you in mind, and let us pul one 
another in mind, while we are in this world of sin and 
15* 



178 LETTERS. 

trouble, that we labor constantly and earnestly to preserve 
the health of the inward man. 

Oh ! to keep a spiritual palate for right relishing spirit- 
ual food ; and be every day girding on us afresh the long 
robe of Christ's righteousness, that we may be suitable to the 
state we are called to, the state of communion with the 
Father himself, and Jesus Christ. It is a garment that 
grows fresher and fresher to us by wearing. It is a garment 
that will never sully, but cleanseth the soul that wears it. It 
is defensive against cold, fainty fits, and the best armor that 
can be against the rage of sin and Satan. It is a glorious 
robe, and yet it hath a singular virtue to make the soul that 
wears it humble. The first garment that the first Adam 
made did somewhat hide his shame, but could not remove 
his guilt and fear ; and therefore he ran with it from God. 
But this garment of the second Adam has alone the excel- 
lency to bring souls to God ; yea, to his very throne, with 
boldness. They that wear this robe carry salvation about 
them, and are objects of delight to the Father, Son, and 
Spirit, and to the blessed angels, wherever they go, and what- 
ever their condition be here : and as Job's friend said, (Job 
v. 27), so may I ; that " So it is ; hear it, and know it for 
thy good." I leave you to the Lord, and remain, etc. 

1659.— % B. D. 

As for your own fears under which you wrestle, it is not 
the having or wanting earthly tranquillity that is any proper 
character of God's love or anger ; but the discovering mark 
of that, lies chiefly in the way of our deportment under such 
trials, agreeable to the practice of the saints, recommended to 
us in the scriptures by the Spirit of God. For there is no 
temptation can befall us, which has not been (for substance) 
the trial of them, who have endured and overcome before us : 
and you are required to remember their faith and patience, 
and the issue God gave, that you do not give way or faint, as 
if God had forsaken the government of the world, or changed 
the nature of the "everlasting covenant, ordered in all things, 
and sure." I have been laboring to live upon the naked 
promises of God in reference to my outward concernments, as 
if I were in the want of all things ; and do think, if I could 
come at it, it were a glorious portion. None but exercised 
believers can tell truly, why the promises are called rich and 



i.i. i ni:-. 17'.i 

precious, and how much lies in that word, "rich in faith," 
James ii. 5. And what extensive satisfaction and glory lie- 
in that word, good ; " All things shall work together for 
i> to them that love God." 
Yon know these things, etc. As fears or outward disap- 
pointments abound, fly Mill a higher pitch ; till yon rejoice, 
in manifold trials, that God counts yon worthy to he li 
among them who could not he made happy by earthly thi: 
nor miserable in the want of all things, whether estate, friend-, 
health, credit or anything else, whilst they could flee to a 
higher Rock. The Lord direct you, and make yon launch 
forth upon the power, and in the wisdom, and under the 
shelter, of the Lord: infinite and abundant is that shelter. 
Oh ! that you and I could, with Luther, sing over all our 
sins and fears, be what they will, the xlvi. Psalm ; u God is 
a refuge for us, a present help in trouble." Here is our 
comfort, this world is not our country ; a few days will call 
us hence. The good Lord manage all your work, and open 
such a window from heaven, that both you and I, and all 
that seek the Lord, may be thoroughly transformed to a 
hearty joy, even in divers temptations ; and know the 
reason, through his grace, why the blessed Spirit did put 
that clause into the holy scriptures, for our patience and solid 
comfort, James i. 2. We are changeable, no rest here ; and 
'tis well it is so ; that we might not relish any thing in this 
world so sweet, as to tempt away our hearts from lovely 
Canaan, and the desirable fellowship of Christ, face to face. 
Oh, the day yet hastens, I trust, in which we shall sing away 
heart-melancholy forever, etc. 

1660.— To D. D. 

"Whatever hazards or difficulties you may fear, they 
are all under the compass of God's absolute disposal; and 
the same faith that carries us to rest on Him for one thing, 
in self-denying dependence, (which at this time God calls 
upon us, eminently and graciously to exercise,) the same 
faith (having such a God and Christ in its eye) is a- exten- 
sive, and under promise of success in all things. " All things 
are possible to him that believeth," Mark ix. 23, As once 
Christ said, u Remember Lot's wife;" so I would Bay to 
you, Remember Lot himself: observe how infirmly he carried 
the matter, although his faith and obedience were stronger 



180 LETTERS. 

than his wife's in the general ; and being sincere was accept- 
ed : yet, although he saw the wonders of God before his face, 
and his irresistible power, in destroying those cities in that 
manner, and preserving him, as a father would preserve a 
child ; he still feared to go to the mountain where God ap- 
pointed him, lest he should perish. And when he was in 
Zoar, a town which God told him He would save for his 
sake ; yet there also he was afraid, and departed thence, as 
if he had no longer an interest in the power of God to save 
him. And how sadly he fell when he thought he had secured 
himself in a cave, the story doth relate. And such like in- 
stances do the scriptures yield in the history of Jacob, David, 
and others. And because, after every exercise of faith, we 
are apt to enter into a cave, God doth hold out new matter 
for our exercise ; as it were, to keep us in the open air, to 
make our faith hardy and warlike. God loves not to have 
his children creep about the fire-side, the refuge and sparks 
of their own kindling ; but for their health's sake enures 
them to the weather, that they may be hardy in believing ; 
according as the variety, and difficulty, and hazards do appear, 
and the imagination of such things start into the mind. Let 
us beg of God the practice of our own letters one to another, 
and we shall yet see the salvation of God in that kind as shall 
be best, even it may be to the outward man. He that can 
be contented to venture his estate, his safety, his credit, his 
soul, his labors, and the success of them, wholly upon God ; 
and sit down, and sing a psalm to his Almighty mercy, good- 
ness and truth ; that man has got a castle over his head, let 
the wind blow which way it will. And herein the blessed 
God and giver of faith will not fail, any more than the truth 
of his nature, and the truth of his word, can change. I 
would fain be at the practice. However, I must so far com- 
mend the way of my God, and justify the method of his 
discipline, both to me and you ; that the crown of our pro- 
fession, and the glory of a Christian, lies in this life of 
believing. 

I do experience so many obstructions against clear de- 
pendence upon, and resignation to, the safe hand of God's 
power and love, and so many aching, contradicting fits of 
flesh and blood, that it would, in some sense, grieve me to 
put any friend, that acts only in a carnal mind, upon such 
uncouth work as this is. But knowing that you have already 
started the game, I would have you pursue cheerfully to a 



i.i.i i BBS. L81 

perfect surrender, and glorying in Gad. Believe it, as bad 
a place a< yon are in, God baa made it, for a sea on, his 
Bcbool to yous and till God doth some ray clear things by 
his providence, \ov your removal, expect more practical 
teaching, and more shelter under his wing, where von are, 
than elsewhere; although your company would be to me 
exceedingly desirable, etc. 

uei.— To i). n. 

I perceive my aunt hath had her weakness returned; such 
is the constitution of this clayey Lump: but what a wonderis 
it, that a treasure of grace and eternal life should continue to 
dwell, through all the days of our sin, trouble, and vanity, in 
such a tabernacle ; and that the Spirit of Christ, the Spirit 
of grace, holiness, and glory, should never cease striving, in 
the midst of all that coarse entertainment of Him, and fre- 
quent opposition on our part, and never give over, till our 
sins be utterly and forever extinguished, and mortality swal- 
lowed up of life ; and so these vile bodies and polluted souls 
made conformable to our Redeemer, and the eternal com- 
panions of his bosom. Let us fix our eye there, and we shall 
be alw r ays delighting in or doing something for Him ; and 
never be discontented with our Avorks, though we rid but little 
ground. Let us prize him, and love him, and all his rules 
and orders ; himself in the first place, and all the rest for 
his sake only ; and that will make our work our delight, 
not our toil and vexation ; for there is no want of help, 
either for strength, or pardon, or both. He takes sinners to 
himself, that he may spend intimacy of good-will upon 
them; and never lets them go quite out of his hands any 
more. Oh, how little do we know Him ! How little do we 
remember, that every conviction we have had, every groan, 
ever}' desire of soul after him, was horn first in his heart, 
and given to us, as the new creature's food, to ripen it for 
glory ! We breathe towards him in the strength of his own 
breath. We may be yet much more winnowed, but cannot 
be lost, nor our strength quite fail ; because He prays tor us 
as never man did. His prayers cannot but speed; for the 
will of the Father, Son, and Spirit, is one will, for they are 
one God; and that will is nothing but good-will to us, who 
hope in Him, and take hold of his free covenant-good-will to 
men. I have very lately had news out of the north, that 



182 LETTERS. 

my dear brother D. is departed out of this world. How 
should these things make us love to be trading for that coun- 
try, where all our best friends go. and not think it much that 
this world yields so many sorrowful bits ; because God never 
appointed it for our abiding place, but only that we may hear 
his voice, and be contracted to Him while we are below, 
in order to the consummating the marriage above. The 
Lord make us cheerfully serious in the business of our day, 
while it lasteth, that we may prepare to launch forth when 
our Lord shall call. Blessed are they who watch, etc. 

1661.— To D. A. 

What God speaks in his word we may take for our com- 
fort, to carry us through the mire, till we land beyond sin 
and pain. The salvation of such poor sinners as you and 
me, was and is the delight of the blessed Trinity. The 
Father did, in his grace and love, elect ; the Son delighted 
to come and do the Father's will in redeeming ; the Holy 
Spirit loves to apply it, and therefore is called the Com- 
forter ; the angels rejoice, that good-will from God is come 
to men. If God say, You must go to the top of the mount, 
and die, set your face towards him who has died before you, 
to bring you through. Flee to the mere grace and love of 
the glorious God, that has designed pardon and righteous- 
ness for poor sinners, for his own sake, in the person of his 
own Son. If he say, You must launch forth, roll upon the 
Rock of ages alone. The wearier you are of your sins, the 
more welcome to a Saviour. The wearier you are of your 
pains and burdens, the sweeter will be the bosom of an in- 
dulgent Father, when you arrive at your Father's house. 
The whole race of the residue of the redeemed are your 
fellow-travellers. The whole Trinity is on your side, the 
scriptures are on your side, and the eternal covenant of 
grace is on your side, while you bow your head, and lean 
only on your beloved Redeemer. Look up to him, and fear 
not your passage. I leave you to the arms of endless care, 
counsel, comfort, strength, and pity, etc. 

1661.— To D. H. 

Our work in this world is only to follow after God, under 
all the changes and trials that accompany an earthly life : 



LEI l ; i 

and we have this encouragement •, "] will never leave you, 
nor forsake you" Grace, and the exercise of it aJ 
from God: None can cleanse a foul heart, or quicken a dead 
. luit he who raised your and my Et< deemer from the dead. 
And therefore, if my hearl be as hard as a Btone, as foul i 
dunghill, as weak as water,and as deceitful, treacherous, and 
vile as maybe; 1 have no refuge, but to flee to my most 
pure, holy Redeemer, to my unchangeable God in J< 
Christ, who is both my Judge and Saviour. He hears the 
inward panting of his own Spirit, when we can BCarcely hear 
the voice of our own prayers, or scarcely know what to 
make of them. He, who creates light out of darkness, kn< 
how to work up an acceptance of us to himself in Christ, 
when our persons and services, as they come from us, are 
filthy rags in our own eyes. We never go down the wind, 
till we say in our hearts by unbelief, The covenant cannot 
-tand in heaven, because I have sinned against it on earth. 
But what saith the Lord, "I am God, I change not, therefore 
ye sons of Jacob are not consumed." Truly, sister, I find 
very often I have as much need of pardoning grace, as ever 
I had at first conversion. And I scarcely know anything 
that makes the difference betwixt me and the vilest hypo- 
crites, but only this — that God makes my distempers my 
burden ; and, in the riches of his love, inclines my heart 
to hanker after him for help. And forever blessed be his 
name, that doth not suffer us to die away utterly from l\]< 
relief. How great is his goodness ! How wealthy and end- 
less is that store of perfection which is laid up in Christ for 
his ransomed and new-born seed ! Get Christ in your eye, 
and that will affect your heart, etc. 

1661.— To D. II. 

Touching what you write, that you have an interest in 
the mercies I receive, it accord- well with that word, 1 Cor. 
xii. 27, "Ye are the body of Christ, and members in par- 
ticular thereof;" and what a mutual Interest is thai ! First 
Christ's, and then one another's in him. Something of this 
affinity appears in the contentment of thai mutual society of 
Christian-, but more in the mutual faith in which they com- 
municate with one another, Rom. i. 12. The Btreams are 
obvious to our 3< use ; but the streams would dvy uj>, if the 
fountain did not feed them. The more you put on Jesus 



184 LETTERS. 

Christ, the more doth the morning-star of perfection, in that 
and all other contentment, twinkle upon us. Still honor 
God, so as to lean upon him, and love him, and all the 
methods he takes. Nothing doth so much bring disquiet, 
as disappointment ; and nothing doth so much bring disap- 
pointment, as the fixing one's expectations upon uncertain- 
ties. Be ever therefore trimming up jour expectations on 
things above, where Christ is, and abides forever. Dissolve 
into his good will, and he will never disappoint jour hope, 
nor suffer jou to be at an utter loss. What think jou is 
the verj meaning of that place, Hab. iii. 17, 18, "Although 
the fig-tree shall not blossom," etc., "Yet will I rejoice in 
the Lord ? " etc. Doth it not speak out tins ? That God 
is the same, and his word the same, when all things fail 
besides. If I have disquiet or fears, let me inquire what it 
is that I fear, and on what ground ; whether about mj 
present or future state of bodj or soul ? And let me not 
make questions or answers but what scripture doth coun- 
tenance. I maj make use of former experiences of mj own 
or others, as they bear witness to divine writ, and so be 
thankful : but I must not make experiences of anj sort mj 
rule, nor the guide of mj faith. My meaning is : We are 
apt to oppose something or other that we find, by observation 
or experience, against the word of the living God ; or ex- 
pound the great and faithful promises by those experiences 
or observations : as where it is said, " Sin shall not have 
dominion over you." " I will send you the Comforter, and 
he shall teach you all things." " I will satisfy the longing 
soul." " I will give you a new heart." " I will circumcise 
your hearts to love me." " The righteous shall not want 
any good thing." " Their souls shall not be desolate." " No 
evil shall come near them." " Your sins and your iniqui- 
ties I will remember no more," and such like, which abound 
throughout the scriptures. We are apt to cast cold water, 
out of our experiences and observations, upon those promises, 
rather than kindle our faith at them, and so live by faith on 
them. We are apt to say, " Yes ; but I do not find it so : 
I find sin prevail against me, my graces wither, my conscience 
clamors, my heart is hard ; I pray, and have no answer ; my 
condition is distressed, and I fear it will be worse : He that 
said, " No evil shall come near," doth yet suffer his people 
to be greatly distressed ; even so far sometimes as to die 
under it, and therefore it is not directed to me ; or there is 



LETTERS. L85 

not Buch a sovereign good in it, as the gospel seems to pro- 
claim." But I would say as Solomon did, Eccles. vii. lo, 
"Thou dost not consider wisely concerning this." It is im- 
possible the oath and promise of («<><! Bhould fail; the mis- 
take is on our part, not considering the work of the Lord, and 
the operation of his hands. He trieth, rooteth, and teaeheth 
faith by ways of opposition; for Christ is always laboring in 
this vineyard: " My Father worketh hitherto, and I work," 
saith he. His groat design is to reveal himself, and baptize 
his people into the spirit of his death and resurrection. He 
slays sin by suffering his people sometimes to be, in a sense, 
slain by it ; that they may more fully die from their own 
power, into his life, Gal. ii. 19. He brings the soul to an 
utter strait, to make it look out, and venture upon him ; as 
the four lepers, who, to flee from famine, ventured to flee to 
an enemy's army. When he would bring his people from 
sensible refuges, and from a man's personal worth, and in- 
herent strength, (which usually gets in like rust upon the 
soul,) he dasheth all that, to teach us, that our life and every 
act of it is the mere operation of his grace, who lives, moves, 
and breathes in his people. How is it possible we should 
know patience but by sufferings ; and the infinite power and 
truth of God in great deliverances, if the sun did always 
shine upon us ? This made David say, " In very faithfulness- 
thou hast afflicted me : " And Paul, " I will rejoice in mine 
infirmities, (or weaknesses,) that the power of Christ may 
rest upon me." Growth of grace lies chiefly in more and 
more expertness in owning of, and living nakedly on, the 
good that is in Christ, as being really mine own; and de- 
riving good from him by perpetual motion. Man's life lies> 
not so much in his breath, as in his breathing; so it is with 
spiritual life, which is maintained by exercising fresh and 
fresh acts of recourse to Jesus Christ : and, by this means, 
the soul comes at length to be (as it were) bathed in the 
comfort of his truth and love by an operating faith. Let my 
condition be what it will, inwardly or outwardly, I am not to 
be dismayed from running to God, and encouraging myself 
in him. But my work is, to be searching out what God re- 
proves or teaches thereby; holding this as an immovable 
truth, that his love never fails from his people one moment ; 
and his people are they, who in good earnest choose him 
for their God; whose very hearts fly out in fervent desires 
after him ; such as come to God by Christ, who design that 

1G 



186 LETTERS. 

as their aim. The whole scripture doth justify this plain 
difference between persons and persons ; between those who 
come to the light, and those who hate it, John iii. 20, 21. 

Now I say, my work is, never to let my heart question 
his love to me. If he has made me to hanker after him, and 
if he loves continually, then there is continually room for 
access to him. It is true, that he hath suffered his people 
sometimes to fall grievously, as David and others ; and he 
hid his face upon it : but did we ever read, that he turned 
away from the prayer of the poor ? and that, while it is 
nothing else but his own Spirit interceding in them, and 
Christ at the same time interceding for them ? It is not 
imaginable. Though he seems not to answer sometimes, 
yet he loves their voice continually. Faith, or an acting out 
of our own life, in the life and Spirit of Christ, for all man- 
ner of good from God by him, is and was always a conquer- 
ing successful grace. In the greatest surge it either gives 
contentment, or it hastens the opening of the door for de- 
liverance ; and usually both together, one way or other. It 
is a sad thing, that when we should be exercising faith for 
getting the good of an affliction, and prying after further dis- 
coveries of God's truth, love, and wisdom ; and inquiring 
what the voice of our Father is, and what it means ; I say, 
it is a sad thing, that, at that time, we should spend our 
thoughts in an unseasonable distrust of an interest in Him. 
His rod, his trials walk up and down among his people, to 
show he is their Father, and his discipline is amongst his 
children ; and yet we are apt to take the very sign of our 
reconciliation, and make it an occasion of our distrust, that 
we are not related to him. This wisdom comes not from 
above, but is carnal, sensual, and unworthy of them who 
have heard the word of faith ; and more so of them who 
have accepted it also for many years. It is bad tempting 
God, and vexing his Spirit in that which provoketh him 
most. But if I think I have not been related to him hither- 
to, let me flee to him in Christ now, and I shall be his, 
though I was not actually so before ; for he casts away no 
sincere comer. But I do suppose you armed by the Lord to 
encounter these assaults, and am persuaded your faith will 
grow by every trial ; yea, when it is most assaulted, you will 
be made to expect some good in the rear, which will make 
you glorify God even in the fires. Dear sister, I commend 
you to the Lord : Christ prays for you, and therefore your 



i.i rrr.i:s. 1 57 

faith cannot fail. He will be eyes to the blind, Bud feel to 

the lame : He will give -race and glory, and no good t li in^r 

will he withhold, etc. 

1C6L— To T. N. 

In pursuance of my promise, and also that the mutual re- 
membrance of each other may be kepi alive, I account my* 

self engaged to present you these lines. It i- one comfort, 
that the Lord rules the world ; yea, no other hut that ( fad 
to whom the supplications of his people are always accepta- 
ble in Jesus Christ; and that nothing can he perfectly a 
misery to them who are constituted heirs of blessing, and 
past away from the curse through the cross of Christ And 
though the glorious arm and truths of God seem to be over- 
whelmed in the w r orld ; yet, when God shall appear to vin- 
dicate his name, and clothe himself with jealousy, what 
obstruction shall hinder his course, or stop his hand ? I 
know you are not only struggling with difficulties without, 
as well as I am, but with enemies within ; and truly that is 
my case also. And I know nothing that keeps me from 
being overwhelmed, but only this ; some blinks of the free, 
eternal, unchangeable bounty of God, who has, for his owm 
sake only, pitched upon such an unworthy creature, and 
caused my soul to hanker after Him. When I am tired out 
with my own darkness, infirmity, pollution, and unbelief, his 
good Spirit is pleased sometimes to sway my heart, to throw 
myself, body and soul, and all my sins and cares, upon Him 
through Jesus Christ; and so, out of my own shame and 
confusion of face, there darts in sometimes a beam of relief 
from Him who "quickened the dead, and calleth the things 
that are not, as if they were." Could we come off more 
smoothly to own and fix that hold upon Jesus Christ, which 
the word of God's grace doth invite us to, we might launch 
forth, and venture securely in the ark Jesus Christ, when 
there is not a foot of dry ground here below to stand upon. 
When w r e cannot pray, then to remember Christ intercedes. 
— When we are all over defiled and confused, to remember 
the Mediator is clothed with our nature, and that, on our he- 
half, in perfect purity, and in the same nature which each of 
us doth bear. — That he did conquer all that we are as yej 
conflicting with in his name. — That we are esteemed, not 
according to our present infirmity, but according to that per- 



188 LETTERS. 

fection to which we are entitled in him who is at God's right 
hand. — Could we be more exercised in this view and blessed 
prospect, it would make our dry and dead limbs recover heat 
and life ; as it was with Jacob when he heard that Joseph 
was yet alive. Blessed be God ! Joseph, our brother, is yet 
alive ; and all power is committed into his hands : He has 
the keys of hell and death, and is himself the door of life 
also. 

Oh, how unpersuadable are our hearts for the most part, 
and loath to credit the word of his grace and truth, so far as 
to resign up ourselves, our sins, our burdens of all sorts, to 
the virtue and power of his atonement and sovereignty, who 
has ended all differences, and brought in an everlasting 
righteousness and good-will, that a righteous God and sin- 
ful man might be reconciled together in Him, who has 
balanced the account exactly ; and being gone, has left a 
legacy of blessing and peace to every soul that flees to him 
to feed upon him, till the days of full refreshing appear, and 
we see him as he is ! When I only muse on my own weak- 
ness, it makes me more weak. While I converse with 
anxious thoughts, it makes my heart dark, sour, and feeble ; 
but millions of sins, cares, fears, and disquiets, flee before 
one hearty closure with Christ, his power and grace, by faith. 
If Christ, in the soul, saith, " I am He," whole troops of ad- 
versaries fall backwards ; difficulties vanish, and desponding, 
fleshly consultations of unbelief fly as dust before the wind : 
and that because our Redeemer is strong, though we are 
weak. I am ready to think sometimes, it is a pity that we 
should ordinarily (as we do) hear so much, and read so 
much, spoken or written to each other, of this certain, real 
refuge, and yet account it not more real. What a thing is 
this, that Christ hath engaged that not one of his shall be 
capable of losing what he hath purchased and bequeathed 
for them ! Such a good-will, and free grace, as our sins shall 
never be able to sin away, any more than they can be able 
to sin away Christ from the right-hand of his Father; for 
were it otherwise, we were undone every moment ! Who is 
it that maintains any thirst after him ; that enables poor dust 
and ashes to conflict against all the powers of darkness ; and 
of weak, sometimes to become strong? Who is it that main- 
tains any indignation against the law of our flesh that is in 
our members, but he who hath overcome in his own person, 
and will shortly tread down Satan under our feet also, and is 



LBTTSB& 1 }9 

hastening the day when the last enemy shall be d< 
and every sigh and tear removed? Lei us oomforl our he 
in this, and pray for each other, thai we ma] as good soldi 
of Jesus Christ, fight this -nod fight of faith, laying hold on 
eternal life; and so surmount the miseries of the present 
evil world, etc. Pray present my heart] respects to four 
daughter, whose soul I know is laboring in this work, etc 



1661.— To S. D. 

The Lord is yours, if you are willing to be his; and I 
doubt not that is your desire and aim. Stand up in the 
midst of all your dumps and trials, and venture one hallelu- 
jah to him that rides upon the heavens for your help; yea, 
in the thickest of your doubts about soul and body, do but 
cast a wishful eye to him who hath swallowed up all manner 
of deaths in victory, and you shall overcome, and rise above 
the waves, because he is risen. It may be, you little think 
how it cheers the heart of Christ to see you sit down, and 
sing a psalm of praise for all his loving-kindnesses, in the 
midst of all worldly darkness. Measure not spiritual and 
eternal things by those that are for a moment. Do not 
wrong the wisdom of God your Father, by repining against 
the instruments and the events of his providence. Let your 
design be how to fortify each other's faith and joy, and never 
ask counsel of flesh and blood in the business. Read over 
the xlvi. Psalm, and make it yours by meditation and prayer. 
Dear sister, fare you well in the Lord. Hasten heaven- 
wards, and count all things else but trifles, that you may 
finish your course with joy. Let the same mind be in you 
as was in Christ, who emptied himself to do the will of his 
Father, for saving such poor sinners as you and me ; and 
when he might have enjoyed all the glory of the world, he 
refused it, and wandered up and down despised of men. 
Love the footsteps of the Captain of your salvation ; and 
whenever any sinful disquiets boil up in your heart, carry 
your heart and your disquiets to the Lord, and beg of him 
to judge them, and give you the new heart he promised in 
Ezek. xxxvi. 26. The good-will, the heart-refreshing peace 
and comfort of a dear leather, a dear Redeemer, and the 
dear, blessed Spirit, be with you. Blessed he, blessed she, 
that overcomes ; and blessed be the Son of God, who hath 

1G* 



190 LETTERS. 

undertaken that we shall overcome in his victory. Once 
more, farewell ; fear not, only believe. 

1661.— To B. D. 

I perceive your family is still visited. The God of the 
spirits of all flesh knows what scourges are most suitable for 
them whom he designs for glory, honor, and eternal life ; 
among whom, I trust, you and your yokefellow are enrolled. 
There is hope that good lies at the bottom, when the heart is 
drawn the more to seek, resign up to, and wait patiently for, 
the salvation of God, to a delightful thought of the appear- 
ance of Christ, and of your gathering to him : the whole 
world is not a purchase for one quarter of an hour's free access 
to God. If he draws and drives the heart to himself, let us 
bless and love him, whatever means he useth to bring it about. 
I desire to bless the Lord, that you are striving to trace the 
steps of that faith "that believed in hope against hope." 
Such faith, such hope, will never return ashamed. I am 
struggling with the same difficulties, and none can help me 
but the faithful Promiser ; who is able to quicken his word 
to me, and soften my heart to mix it with faith. As you 
write that he has not been a barren wilderness to you, (which 
is unspeakable grace,) so I have often found ; and therefore 
I have hope, that, at length, He will perfect the design of 
favor and pity upon such a poor worm. The Lord help you 
and me to find fountains in the valley of Baca, till the last 
surge be over, and every tear removed. We have no other 
way to communicate with each other, but in prayer and faith, 
affections, and letters. Letters, indeed, may miscarry, but 
no earthly obstructions can hinder the three former : faith 
and prayers fly invisibly, and Christian affections also. As 
for myself, the Lord is every day forcing my soul to look out 
more after the mysterious privilege of his most absolute free 
grace in Christ. There, the wearied find rest, the polluted 
find purity, and the dejected find an anchor of hope. Some- 
times I am confounded in my own thoughts, and my prayers 
rather shame than comfort me ; then I stand stifl, and look 
for the salvation of God only : He sends his naked arm out 
of the thick cloud, and creates some beam of light and refuge, 
which makes a pilgrim sing in a land of darkness. 

He seems to be gone sometimes, but returns again ; He 
withdraws, but never bids farewell utterly. He suffers me 



LBTTEB8. 191 

sometimes to tumble in mine own filth, bu1 brings me to the 
laver again ; to the " Fountain opened to the house of 
David, for sin and uncleanness." Bis unchangeable pur- 
I ose and grace holds its course as the Bun ; and therefore 
poor worms are never undone, though ever so low* Could 
I more actually resign to his will, and read thai golden line 
of love which runs within every providence of his, and in 
every part of his discipline, and put my BeaJ to it, how might 
I triumph and say, "0 death, where is thy sting? grave, 
where is thy victory ? " He dasheth earthly comforts, that 
himself might comfort alone : He suffers corruption to swell 
and rage, that he may appear to be the only mighty Re- 
deemer: He glorifies the excellency of his word, by forcing 
the soul thither for refuge. Brother, let us be flying into 
this ark ; his word endures to a thousand generations. AVe 
have the same God, and no other than wdiat Abraham, Isaac, 
and Jacob, Moses, David, and Paul had. He never left a 
poor supplicant, nor will do it ; for the Spirit of supplication 
is his own breath ; and Himself deeply concerned in all the 
concernments of his people ; they are his, and their con- 
cernments his also. Let us muse on this privilege seriously, 
and glorify his good-will by faith and thankfulness ; and so 
rejoice in believing above hope. The Lord be a hiding 
place to you and me ; never yield to let him go ; but let 
us cling fast by faith and hope, till he cause salvation and 
light to shine forth out of obscurity, and comfort all that 
mourn. Glorify God by faith, patience, and thankfulness ; 
lose not that, and you will be no loser : though the day be 
dark, the sun is not down. The times of refreshing will 
come to us, and we to them; for our Redeemer lives forever. 
I leave you to that God, and remain, etc. 

1661.— To S. D. 

That is the happiest man or woman in the world, that 
can truly hear the voice of God in his rod. Thai happy 
profit I press and long for: and that happiness I heartily 
wish to yourself and my brother; that as God hath 
made you partners in affliction, you may endeavor to the 
utmost to support each other's faith and holy patience in a 
stormy day. Afflictions, be they what they will, can never 
make you miserable. Nothing makes the rod tedious, but 
unwarrantable vexation of spirit : in days of trouble, that i> 



192 LETTERS. 

the usual temptation ; and there is no such cure as the naked 
sight of God's wise, disposing hand. If there have been 
any misgiving thoughts between you, about future concern- 
ments relating to yourselves and your children, (as under 
such surges you have met with, our frailty is very apt unto), 
spread that infirmity before the Lord, who is abundant in 
pardon, mercy, and truth ; who can spare the lives of the 
rest if he please, and will not suifer the seed of his servants 
to be desolate. All the scriptures are full of counsel, and 
infallible grounds of consolation ; yet such is our carnality, 
darkness, and unbelief, many times, that we think the rock 
cannot yield honey : and so we gauge things by fleshly and 
worldly observation ; and are apt secretly to condemn the 
wisdom, goodness, and faithfulness of God before we are 
aware ; whereas the only way to find the pearl of real 
advantage in the blessed word is, to lay the heart to the 
word by an exercise of faith ; and then cast the soul with 
full reliance upon the Lord, though it seems to be ever so 
much against that sense and reason, which flesh and blood is 
always dictating to us. Dear sister, I must confess I travail 
under a treacherous heart of mine own, which is ever betray- 
ing away my peace, my strength, my faith, and hope ; and 
that is my daily burden : but I never come before the Lord 
with any openness, and unfeigned resignation to him for par- 
don and succor in vain. I am somewhat a partner with you 
in the temptations and waves of a present world, but cannot 
call it dismal, so long as God doth in some measure steer my 
course in any sincerity after him. Let us provoke one 
another to this, and the storm will be over ; the day will 
break, and the darksome shadows will flee away ; or we 
shall flee through, or flee beyond them ; for faithful is he 
that hath promised. 

1662.— To D. H. 

Truly, sister, I do sometimes wonder at the sottishness 
of my heart, that can be so affected with the christian 
respects of a dear friend, and yet have no more flames of 
affection to the Fountain of all love and loveliness. Me- 
thinks nothing makes any friend truly excellent in my 
thoughts, but grace, and the inhabitation of Christ there. 
And if a beam of his grace creates a delightful aspect 
wherever it pitches, how excellent for perfection is Jesus 



l.i i i ii:s. 

Chrisl himself I Sometimes our hearts are apl to fancy 
Christ, as if he were humorsome and revengeful, as if he 
would make the worst of things, and not the better: some- 
times, as if he had forgotten, were far off, did not hear, were 
reserved, exceedingly ready to take exceptions, and such 
like ; whereas, we may go to a poor lump of clay, where a 
.-park only of his nature dwells, and have sometimes a taste 
of that affection which is scarcely capable of reflecting back 
any such prejudices, or the least shadow of them. And the 
reason is, because there is a rooted persuasion of some pre- 
dominant principle of christian, spiritual, and reciprocal love. 
O then, how seriously should we pray, that our heart- might 
be directed into the love of Christ; and that it may he Bhed 
abroad in our hearts. A Christ that loves once, and ever: 
yea, and to the full he loveth: he loved, and came; lie loved, 
and died ; he loved, and proclaimed the everlasting gospel ; 
he loves, and pardons ; he loves, and heals ; he loves, and 
corrects ; he loves, and teaches ; he loves, and reproves ; he 
loves, and holds fast forever ; he loves, and saves. When a 
soul is sunk as deep as hell in sin and filth, in love he re- 
deems that soul, and is not ashamed, nor thinks it much, to 
cleanse it again, because love constrains him. All his ways, 
(not one excepted) are mercy and truth to them that fear 
him. He has a noble and surmounting love, not capable of 
melancholy, misconstruction, or mistake. He knew all the 
defects of his spouse before he betrothed her to himself in 
loving-kindness and tender mercies. And he so far abhors 
the declining of his love, that the very beholding of any de- 
fect there, inflames his heart to remove it, that he may pre- 
sent her to himself without spot. When we have any agony 
against our sins, doth this come from the flesh? Is it net 
purely the Lord's arm? What shall I say? The Lord 
reveal himself, that we may purely rejoice in God our 
Maker ; and cling to him in the virtue and power of his own 
unsearchable and endless grace and love. I long for 
other society than lean have here; few friend- here, and 
little help; especially as to that interest in which you and 1 
are most concerned ; hut there is a river thai never dries up, 
and a counsellor that never fails. I am yet in health, and 
as to outward freedom, as 1 was when I came hither first ; 
but not without some daily exercises; hut my chief adver- 
sary lurks within, which God will one day destroy, and all 
warfare will be over. Let us pray to Him for each other, for i' 
is not in vain. 



194 



LETTERS. 



1662.— Zb T.N. 

Dear Sir : However it goes with you, I trust you have 
no reason to count yourself alone, whilst so good a friend 
hath said, " I will be with you in the fire, and in the water." 
When we are in any deep affliction, then is a time to exer- 
cise scripture reason, and not worldly reason ; and to draw 
such conclusions in reference to soul and body, as the wisdom 
and truth of God do teach. The Lord make his furnace to 
be purifying at this day. Some in one kind, some in another, 
have their various trials, but the " Father of mercies'' doth 
govern the matter ; so that, at the close, it shall be well with 
the righteous. Let us labor with might and main to keep 
up good thoughts of God, and the glory of our interest in 
him. Though the heavens and earth do shake, the sense of 
his covenant cannot change ; his Son cannot be dethroned ; 
nor the promises of his grace and presence be destroyed. 
Clouds may darken the sun as to us, but they can never 
diminish the natural light of the sun, nor stop its course. 
The sun is as nigh the earth when clouds interpose, as it was 
before ; and our dear Lord is now as near his afflicted ones, 
as when the branch of earthly things was never so green in 
their hands. Faith, repentance, and love to the Lord Jesus, 
are glorious ornaments for a pilgrim travelling towards that 
city that hath foundations. Sir, I know not how in particu- 
lar it fares with you, but I doubt not that it goes well : for 
can any dealings of an infinitely wise God, a faithful and 
gracious father, be amiss; seeing he has promised,' and will 
not fail to " give, grace and glory, and will withhold no good 
thing from them that fear him ? " Let us not deny his truth 
by unbelief, nor his love by a lowring despondency of heart : 
however the waves rise and swell, he is above them ; and the 
great redemption is near. 



1662.— To B. D. 

I am affected with your trouble, and yet comforted in 
your faith and comfort. But he who makes rivers run in 
the desert, knows how to refresh the dry ground. When 
we hear the news that our troubles will one day expire, 
there is some refreshment with it, and not a little support 
the while. But oh, forever blessed be that glorious hope, 



i i in I, 195 

that not only outward troubles, but Bin also shall be do more; 
yea, and that, while we are striving and toiling under a body 

of sin, we arc yd. in the second Adam, brought over from a 

state of sin, to a present Btate of righteousness, acceptance, 
and blessing. This Is the crown and conquest of faith, hope, 

and consolation. "All these things will I give," said tin- 
tempter; yes, but upon whal terms? "if thou wilt fall down, 
and worship me." Ah, cursed and deceitful proffer! Let 

my portion and yours bo found still, and forever, in a cruci- 
fied and tisen Christ. If he loved us when he washed 06 in 
his blood, then no slaying providences can separate from the 
same love : so that we may, musing the matter aright, say, 
' He loved me, when he hurried me hither and thither, When 
he brake my bones, emptied me from vessel to vessel, and 
made me as the mire of the street.' Yes, his blessing once 
bequeathed can never be revoked, nor his eternal love 
change. Though his paths are in the deep, and his ways and 
judgments past finding out, while he maintains in our soul> 
a cry after him (which is the voice of his own Spirit inter- 
ceding in us) he hath not forgotten to be gracious, nor 
caused his bowels to cease from yearning towards us. Sin 
only makes outward burdens intolerable ; outward troubles 
declare the venom of sin, and tend to open the ear to in- 
struction : and so both of them send the souls of the re- 
deemed to the atonement of Christ's blood for healing, and 
into his bosom for refuge. Certainly, brother, his promises 
are as good now, as they were before the storm rose upon 
us ; and the covenant of grace and love and good-will smiles 
as much as ever; and when the cloud is blown over and 
gone, we shall see it. Now, to justify God's truth, and Bub- 
mit to his wise hand; to maintain good and honorable 
thoughts of him, and all his dealing-, when BO many things 
from without, and al>o from within, do war against it ; this 
is like the faith of God's elect, and doth, in some ble88ed 
measure, betoken the knowledge of what God is in himself, 

and what he is eternally to US, and that the seed of God re- 
maineth in us. 1 leave you in his hand, and to Strive under 
your affairs, as ho shall give you wisdom and strength. 

Lord, purge and heal U8: He will do it. and all will he well. 
Let us hold on to pray lor each other, for "the vision will 
speak," etc., Ilab. ii. 3, 4. Yours to love and live with you 
in the Lord, etc. 



196 LETTERS. 

1662.— To P. D. 

I have no other thing to recommend to you but this ; 
that as you have already found this present world to be a 
slippery foundation, so beware how you lay the whole stress 
of your expectation upon it, or the persons in it. A thirsty 
man may dream that he drinketh ; yet when he awakes, he 
may faint. The drink of a dream gives not refreshment ; 
it is only the water of life, issuing from the rock Christ, that 
is satisfying and healing ; " He that drinks of that water 
shall never thirst.'' Frowns and favors of men are some of 
the strongest engines the devil has, to shake a soul from 
simple and single-hearted following of the Lamb ; and 
besides them, the treachery of our carnal and unbelieving 
hearts is ever watching to betray our poor souls into a dis- 
relish of the pure paths of life ; dulling the edge of zeal, 
and blinding the eye from beholding the excellency that lies 
in the person of Christ crucified and risen, and the excellent 
grace that has shone from heaven for recovering poor sinners 
out of the snare of the devil. So that you and I have need 
to be much attending at the footstool of that throne, where 
the Lord of life sways the sceptre of relief, mercy, and saving 
health for all coiners. Let my portion be in the fountain of 
life, and not in the broken cisterns of earthly, deceitful con- 
tentments. If you would save yourself from grieving the 
good Spirit of God, (which, I trust, dwells in you,) retire 
yourself, as much as you can, into the contemplation of such 
things as may cause the fear and love of God to be and 
remain, witli some odoriferous verdure and kindly growth in 
your soul; and take an ingenuous and serious view, whether 
the plants of the Lord do llourish, or else are blighted. No 
less than an infinity of power is requisite to such work ; and 
he only, who engageth his heart to it, lieth under the promise 
of the influences of Heaven, to quicken and satisfy him with 
good things full of marrow. I have no more, but to recom- 
mend you to the Lord, to keep you from declining in a de- 
clining time ; and that you may be preserved from evil, and 
your affections be where Christ is. I remain, etc. 

1662.— To S. H. 

I know you yearn after the same country, which I have 
some hope (through the riches of that bounty that has ap- 



1 1 1 ■ 1 1 I 

peared from heaven to men) to Bee; and when the 
here below are over, to breathe forth blessing, honor, and 
praise to Him. who, I trust, has Loved as both, and washed 
us iii bis own blood ; and I have some ground to hope the 
number there will be one the more for pour oomps 
Only spend your love upon him, your delight in him, 
your desires after him, and r\rvy part of his will j as well 
to carry the cross, as to wear the crown, for both 
privileges. 

When your heart is oppressed with sin or trouble, then 
think, oh, how free is He from sin, who sits conqueror at the 
right hand of God, as my Advocate, Surety, and Rede* mer : 
yea, my principal self; whose I am by his redemption. more 
than I am mine own ! Sins, evil thought-, heart-lusts, and 
despondency of spirit, shall not always tear and torment : 
for he has judged them in his flesh upon the tier, and is 
risen on our behalf. I could write a volume, had 1 words 
and time, of the terrible inroads which the enemy, especially 
my own corrupt heart, makes upon me; but I doubt not, you 
know the same warfare. What remains, but that with faith, 
hope, and patience, we cry out, " How long, Lord, holy and 
true, how long ere the Canaanite be expelled, and ti 
thorns in our flesh be consumed forever?" Oh, what pure 
and uninterrupted communion with Christ will that he. when 
neither sin within, nor troubles and fears without, shall gaB 
any more ! wdien melancholy doubts and unbelief, as a black 
cloud, shall be dispelled, and dried up forever before the 
sparkling face of the Sun of righteou>ne— , Bolemniring the 
marriage of his spouse ! We have no oratory that can eut- 
pass what he has already uttered concerning this : and hi- 
words are not vain, though ours are many times too. too 
chaffy about these things, the more is the pity it Bhould be 
so. When he says, k - Sin -hall not have dominion over youj 
I will circumcise your hearts to love me: I will redeem 
Jacob out of all his troubles : I will be with you, and deliver 
you," his words are all true ; but our little exercise of faith 
is either like a weak-handed grasp, or a leaky vessel ; ye1 our 
faith itself is in hi- keeping, and his intercession is incessant ; 
therefore it cannot utterly fail. Dear sister, wait on ! 
pluck up your soul to the business; your labor will not he 
in vain, nor shall any unfeigned desire after him return 
disappointed and ashamed. Throw husband, child, and Ben 
upon him, into his bosom; and there lodge together by faith, 

17 



198 LETTERS. 

in the joy of the Holy Ghost, and so take your rest : I 
mean a laborious, and yet a sweet rest ; for so he giveth his 
beloved sleep. His own concernments are mixed in ours ; 
though his own are chief in his eye, yet he can look upon 
them, without overlooking ours ; for the covenant is made ; 
the blood that concerns it is already shed, and fully accepted ; 
the redemption is complete ; and the Lord's portion and de- 
light is his people. So that he, as it were (if I may say as 
it were, in so true and real a business,) raiseth in himself an 
endless delight, by loving his ransomed seed, dressing them 
according to his own heart, and shedding a measure of that 
love into their hearts also, for carrying on a spirit of conju- 
gal affection in the souls of his people towards him now : till 
the shadows flee away, and we come to know him as we are 
known of him ; and so love him without interruption, as Ave 
are loved of him. The day is near, when a thousand-fold 
more of this will really appear than words can utter : for 
who can speak how much there lies in God's purpose, yea, 
in his very heart, to do for them whom he bought so dear, 
and rescued with so high a hand ? Deut. x. 15. How then 
should we look out to awaken our faith, and lift up our 
heads, because our Redeemer is alive and risen, and our 
safety is in him ! Oh, that my own heart and yours were 
more warmed with such a view ! I have no more, but to 
recommend you to the bosom of him who is the God of all 
grace, pity, power, and consolation. Yours, in the hope of 
thissaving health and relief, etc. 

1663. — Tb D. H. 

I have not yet found out a way of employment ; but am 
looking out, and do desire to be looking up ; for my advice 
and u help cometh from the hills," as David speaks. Disap- 
pointments (as a wise and faithful God orders them) are as 
useful many times as success. God has not cast me out of 
his gracious covenant, nor my soul into murmuring dis- 
couragement ; but tells me, the trial of my faith is better, 
much better than gold. However it is with my outward 
man, yet my chief want is not there ; and although my sin- 
ful and corrupt heart wars strongly against the Spirit and 
the new creature, yet I believe the Spirit, in the operations 
of his grace in the new creature, will carry the day, when all 
is done, for our Redeemer is strong. I am laden with dark- 



i i rii u, 198 

Bess, weakness, corrupt lusts, vanity, distrust, unsteady and 
uneven walking, deadness and hardness of hear! ; but I find 
the fountain of mercy for cleansing atil] open, and the grace, 
mercy, and truth of God in the covenant unchangeable: and 

in this stands "all my -alvation, and all my desire," '2 Sam. 

xxiii. 5. I want nothing but more faith, more spiritual light 
and furniture, more of Christ's image, more renewing in the 
spirit of my mind, to have less carnal carefulness, Luke xii. 
22. and more of the just man's life, llahhak. ii. 1. Sin 
makes a man poor, weak, fend fearful; the grace of God, 
which brings salvation, makes a soul rich, strong, and confi- 
dent! for the covenant of grace, and the promises, are more 
than words. The treasure is full ; and if I could bring my 
empty sack in earnest, it would be filled in earnest J \ 
you a short hint of my conviction, my conditions, travails, 
and desires : that, in the like, you may see you are not alone. 
and that we may strive together in spirit towards the glorious 
prize of our high calling. I commend you to your and my 
strong rock, the blessed and ever-living God, etc. 

1664.— To B. D. 

I do not doubt but the same God, who has made com- 
munion with himself sweet to you, will gather you under 
his wings, and perfect in you the good pleasure of his will. 
What a majestic privilege is this, that the omnipotent God 
should voluntarily be in the nearest covenant relation with 
a poor sinner ! That Christ, God-man, should be our Priest, 
our Advocate, and every hour of the day and night alive, to 
make intercession for all those who come to God through 
him! What though great and new temptations come, and 
sore tempests arise, he did, and doth, say to the storm-. u Be 
still," and they must ail obey him. Strong is our Redeemer, 
and therefore the floods cannot drown a weather-beaten 
.■I; yea, he is both ship and pilot, and therefore the 
venture cannot miscarry. Who is it that keeps the small 
grain, the little spark of faith, alive, btit he who made Jonah, 
in the deep, to say, "Yet I will look again toward- thy holy 
temple?" Our whole care and burden lie upon his hands, 
"who bears up the pillars of the earth." lit,' lives t<> give 
and nourish faith, and in believing to give peace: therefore 
sin shall not have niter dominion, nor condemnation find 
room to enter. lie is bringing us through many waters to 



200 LETTERS. 

a safe shore. The victory determined and promised will 
break forth, because our Head is exalted above all authority 
and power. We may look all manner of deaths and dis- 
couragements, all manner of disappointments and difficulties 
here below, in the face, without an appalled heart, and 
amazing terror; because the Prince of life and deliverance 
has engaged his life, his crown, and dignity, to be the hope 
and strength of his poor servants. Happy is that soul that 
makes him his only and continual refuge, as I perceive you 
do ; and blessed be his name for it ! Mr. Th. Tr. is dead ; 
and thus rolls away the world, and the things and lusts 
thereof. The days of an anxious pilgrimage are running- 
out. The Lord direct our eyes to that serene and un- 
changeable state, where sins, fears, and temptations, tur- 
moils and difficulties, will cease forever : to the comfort and 
communion of whose gracious Spirit I commend you. 

1665.— To B. J. D. 

I do, by one or other, sometimes hear of your health, 
which is welcome news to me. Although the years of my 
life have not reached the number that yours are now at ; 
yet, methinks, the Lord hath given me a fair respite to seek 
that pearl which doth surmount the value of the whole world 
and the lusts thereof, which pass away : but the deceit, pol- 
lution, and negligence of my own heart are such, and so 
unsuitable has been my improvement of time in a day of 
grace, under the means thereof, that I may cry out, Where 
have I been ? what have I done all this while ? how little 
have I answered the gospel call ! how little have I pried 
applyingly into the mystery of Christ ! and what miserable 
returns have I made to all the bounteous offers of the gos- 
pel that I have read and heard ! But yet the Lord hath, in 
some measure, hinted to my soul, that he has made with me 
in Christ an everlasting covenant. There I desire humbly 
to cling, and there to place all my expectation, my hope of 
acceptance and salvation, and all my desire. And you that 
have seen more days than I have done, I entreat you also 
to give them a serious review. Let neither of us leave our 
choicest concernments at uncertainties. Oh, for a rousing 
visit from the God of all grace upon each of our hearts, that 
may alarm us out of ourselves into the city of refuge, before 
we are benighted ! Let each of us be as much afraid to 



i rsRS. 201 

have any wholesome COnvictiOD die upon Qfl now, :\< we 

would be afraid hereafter to be found without our wed- 
ding garment I have Little news, but thai the plagu< 
greatly increased, and seems to import thai wrath has gone 
forth. The Lord help us to put our house (our hearts) in 
order, with the utmost zeal and diligence. The alarm from 
heaven Bounds louder and louder, and seems to give more 
than an uncertain sound. It .-peaks out Divine wrath most 
distinctly: happy would this city and land be, if they heard 
and submitted to the voice of the rod. Lei US look out. and 
be fitted to meet our Lord. It is a pity to let an eternal 
state be at uncertainties with us, when a temporal life is thus 
tottering. Such a fleeing to Christ a- i- accompanied with a 
clear resignation of our wills wholly to his will, is the b 
preparative for our change. 

1065.— To B.J.D. 

Though there is not often intercourse betwixt us by 
letters, yet I can truly say, you are many times upon my 
heart. The affairs of your precious and never-dying soul 
are the principal theme of my anxious and affectionate re- 
membrance of you. I have you in my eye when I do not 
bodily see you, and in my prayers to Him who quicken eth 
all things, and giveth life and growth to whomsoever he will. 
Your convictions, your temptations inward and outward, the 
wiles and power of the prince of darkness, who stand- against 
you in battle-array, your infirmity, the deceitfulneSfi of -in, 
(that will turn and wind and shift from one corner of the 
soul to the other to preserve itself from being dislodged) the 
lulling baits, the powerful suasives, the threats, exigencies, 
and influences of a present evil world, the difficulty, and yet 
the necessity of that spiritual warfare to which you are 
called, and unto which the promise of victory is made : 
these things, I say, are in my eye. And then I think, here 
is matter enough for one brother to remember another, and 
to cry out, "0 Lord, who shall raise my brother into a vigor- 
ous exercise of faith with power, into inward and exemplary 
holiness? Who shall bring him into the rivers of effectual 
contrition, and land him on the right shore ; for he is feeble, 
unable, and ready to halt in the way ': Xs no -hall bring him 
into the strong city, the walls whereof are salvation, and the 
habitation thereof purity, serenity, and peace ? Wilt not 
17* 



202 LETTERS. 

thou, O God, who alone canst slay the crooked serpent, and 
say to all obstacles whatsoever, Give way ; let the ransomed 
of the Lord return : let the seed of my servants, to whom 
my promise is made, come and enter into the strong hold ; 
for I have found a ransom ? " Dear brother, how and in 
what frame of heart my letter will find you, I know not ; but 
God has guided my pen to let you know a little what kind 
of musings I have, in my jealousy and tender affection to- 
wards you. If you are busied in these things already, these 
lines may be a spur and encouragement : if otherwise, God 
can make them a successful alarm ; though, as mine, they 
are weak, short, and impotent. I live here among the graves, 
and do not know but that my decease may be at hand, though 
at present in good health ; and therefore I think meet to let 
my arrow fly, as near as I can, to the white of the mark ; 
for there is no work nor invention in the grave ; no return 
from thence, nor further opportunity to set the house (the 
heart) in order. Though my bow may be drawn at random, 
God can direct the arrow within the joints of the armor : to 
him I commend it and you. I have sent you a bill of mor- 
tality. The voice of God crieth to the city, to the country, 
to you, and to me : the man of wisdom, and none else, shall 
see, and fear his name. 

1665.— ^ E. D. 

The greatest thing I desire is, that the presence and 
blessing of the Lord may be mine and your portion ; and 
that is the best portion which is obtained from Him by 
prayer and resignment to his pure will. How, in reference to 
me, God has ordered the things of this world to come and 
go, you have in some measure seen, that you with me should 
lay hold upon the most durable substance ; that so we may 
become heirs of that peace and that treasure, which the 
world is neither able to give nor take away. Upon such a 
bottom as that, and no other, there is safe swimming by faith 
through all changes and difficulties, unto a condition of rest, 
purity, peace, and satisfaction that will never change. I 
hope Christ has numbered you amongst his lambs ; and if 
God himself be to you and me a Shepherd, we may, in the 
words of his own Spirit, say, We shall want no good thing. 
Therefore call much upon him, to reveal himself in his Son 
unto your heart, and that he would carry and mould your 



i.Ki i BBS. 

concernments and mine in his own bosom, take the whole 
care and guidance of us into his own hands, and also conform as 
perfectly to Ids will ; and then we are beyond hazard, and 
may be assured to be supplied sufficiently; be guided by his 
grace here, and arrive at glory hereafter. 

1GG8.— To C, E. I). 

I apprehend it a providential favor of God to me, that 
Pie gave me an opportunity of seeing my dear cousin, your 
husband, before the Lord removed him hence; thai I might 
have some fresh taste of the frame of his soul, when he 
stood upon the brink of eternity, ready to launch forth. I 
know it is an afflicting providence to you, to be deprived of 
the society of so dear a relation, after you had so long en- 
joyed the endearment of each other's affections, and had 
passed through many afflicting dispensations together in this 
vale of trouble ; and had also, I doubt not, many joint ap- 
plications to God, praying together, and, according to the 
ability which God gave, endeavoring to promote each other's 
spiritual and everlasting welfare. But herein there is mat- 
ter of consolation, and thankfulness to God ; not only that 
He lent you this choice comfort through so many years of 
pilgrimage, but that Pie caused you to see his faithfulness 
and goodness in carrying this your dear husband through, to 
the end of his spiritual warfare ; and that God preserved 
him from staining his profession in the eyes of the world, 
and has rendered the remembrance of him precious amongst 
his people, and fulfilled his word touching him, "Mark the 
righteous man, and behold the upright ;" etc. And though 
he be taken out of our sight for a little time, there is no 
reason to repine, that the Lord hath seen it good to take 
him into the vision and perfect fruition of himself among 
the blessed, (as he hath given us ground to be fully per- 
suaded,) and has now put an end to his troubles and dis- 
quiets, has healed his aches, cured his diseases, and removed 
his pains of body; translating him from this world, where 
He is yet pleased to leave you, for a further exercise of 
your faith and patience. And now what remain-, but that 
you gird up the loins of your mind, to run the remainder of 
your own race? And while you are here, in time, breathe 
after the same eternal rest; rejoicing amidst all trials, and 
believing that our faithful and gracious God, who has begun 



204 LETTERS. 

his good work in your heart, will never cease till He hath 
carried you through, and landed you safe, beyond all tempta- 
tion, sin, and sorrow. Unto the hands of this gracious God 
I commend you, etc. 

1668.— To E. D. 

Since my former, God has been pleased to draw a cloud 
over my poor family. Tuesday last, little Tommy fell sick, 
and on Wednesday morning died, and is this day to be 
buried. A great and sudden stroke, which doth almost 
overwhelm my dear wife ; who goes up and down lamenting, 
and often crying out, That she has sinned away her sweet 
babe into the grave. You may see, in short, how it is with 
us at present ; I need not add more ; for I know what tender 
love yourself did bear to this sweet and heart-taking infant. 
Only I desire both you and my dear sister, and our friends 
there, to pray for us, that this stroke may be blest to us all, 
and that my desolate, dear wife may be guided through her 
present confusion of spirit, to the only and right refuge. I 
delivered her your letter, which was very acceptable ; and 
therefore pray write her something again ; and I desire my 
sister would do the same : it is good to help in time of need. 
Her heart is much broken, and my affliction is not a little 
one : I believe it is for some further good that God intends 
to us both. A few lines from you, whom I know she doth 
dearly value, will be very seasonable. No affliction is at 
present joyous, but grievous ; but afterwards comes the 
sweet and wholesome fruit : and this is the portion of them 
who take hold of the full and sure covenant, and the cruci- 
fied, risen Christ, who dies no more. There is nothing will 
so wean affections hence, and from the mischief of creature- 
love, as the study of Christ ; viewing him in the gospel, 
pondering his excellent person, and his glorious mediatory 
office for us ; and so set the affections on him, as to be in- 
flamed with his love, under a view of our own right to and 
interest in him. And therefore, not only with the bowels of 
an earthly father, but in the bowels of Jesus Christ, I intreat, 
and in his name do charge you, to study and muse day and 
night, the unmeasurable, endless love of God, who sent his 
Son ; the infinite, unwearied, and endless love of Christ, 
who came, died, rose again, and lives forever, to be your 
only portion ; and to make you, even you, a delightful por- 



i.r.iTi .i:s. 

tioii to him; and to render you (through the blood of sprink- 
ling, and the communion and influence of thai one Spirit of 
the Father and Son) an object of his delight, and a monu- 
ment o\' his pardoning grace, and hie purifying virtue, to all 
eternity. To him I commend you. 

1GG8.— To E. D. 

BoTn myself and my wife are very sensible of this Bore 
storm with which the Lord is pleased to exercise your faith 
and patience at this time. But Christ is in the vessel, and 
therefore you cannot perish : in the lire and in the water, 

in every cold and hot fit, lie is with you, and has a tender 
sense of every jot of your pain and sickness. It is a father's 
chastisement and trial : and all his aim is, to purify and lit 
you for an object of his eternal delight. I know his ever- 
lasting arms are under you; and though the dispensation be 
dark, yet he is doing you good with all his heart, according 
to his covenant, and with all his soul. He inclined your 
heart, of his own grace, to choose him, because he first chose 
you, and will yet choose you in the furnace. Throw your- 
self upon him ; for nothing shall separate you from his love 
in Christ. Christ himself was once sick, for your sake, to 
the very death, and in great darkness ; yet always beloved 
of his Father : and his God and Father, is your God and 
Father ; and therefore he will not forsake your soul in ad- 
versity, but make your bed in your sickness ; for his tender 
mercy toward you can never dry up. Resign yourself 
wholly to Him, and -be comforted in Him; for He who is 
your own God and Saviour, is Lord both of life and death. 
My heart is melting over you, and yet I am but an earthly 
father ; all affection is derived from Him ; but his affections, 
his love and pity are infinite. I do remember you, and my 
poor wife also; both of us have and do spread your case 
before the Lord; and I have abundant satisfaction in the 
Lord, that it is and will be well with you, living or dying; 
but we earnestly desire, if it bo his will, thai you may yel 
live to show forth the praises of Him upon the earth, who 
has done great things for you. For what greater fevor can 
He give a poor creature, than to make you seek his face, and 
to number you amongst his followers; which II<- has given 
evidence of (blessed be his name) already. Be not dejected, 
but lift up your head and heart to your God and Saviour ; 



206 LETTERS. 

throw all your sins, and cares, and fears upon him, and 
spare not ; for so you honor him, and can never please him 
better. He sees you through a cloud, and delights to do 
you good ; and will never cease, till he open before you the 
endless volume of his eternal love, and so love you into his 
eternal rest. Therefore bear up, and be revived ; for God 
himself is with you for a refuge. To him I leave you, 
waiting his good pleasure, etc. 

1668.— 2b E. D. 

I received yours of the 10th instant, October, desiring 
to own the gracious hand of God in this speedy recovery 
of yours. When Hezekiah was reprieved from death for a 
season, it is said, he rendered not according to the benefit ; 
take heed of that : whatever awakening you have had, en- 
deavor to retain it ; and that is the best kind of thankful- 
ness ; and this the Lord will give, if you often let him know 
that it is the real desire of your heart: He satisfieth the 
longing soul. Present the same things to him, by faith and 
prayer, which you mention to me in your letter, and then 
you may expect to speed. He can compose and direct your 
thoughts ; for he art- work is his only to manage. When you 
put faith and prayer to the word, you make it another thing 
than it was before in the mere letter ; that is the way to draw 
water out of the wells of salvation. And thus humbly, 
seriously, and cheerfully expect whatever good there lies 
bequeathed to you in the New Testament, which is your 
legacy, etc. 

1669.— To D. H. 

I AM refreshed in the experience you have had of the good 
hand of God towards you ; and though God has caused you 
to walk in many rough paths, as to your outward condition, 
yet he still appears a God of all grace ; and doth, in these 
things, plainly tell you, that this world is not your rest ; and 
therefore you meet with thorns and briers here, that you 
may have the fresher desires maintained in your heart, as- 
piring upwards. The greatest of earthly contentments will 
be of no worth nor use in heaven ; neither can they of them- 
selves, any way add to the comfort or thriving of a spiritual 
life on earth. The only life we are allowed to live in this 



I I II I I 

world is the life of Faith ; which grows better under difficul- 
ties, than in a Bmooth state of affairs in this world. I know 
no sweeter entertainment God has to give in this world to 
his poor children, than thai he give often convincement, thai 
the best of this world is too lean diel for them to feed apon; 
and bo make them take the truer taste of that marrow and 
fatness which, in Christ, they arc always to live uj.cn ; that 

is, no loss than God himself, the fountain of blessed] 

safety, peace, sufficiency, and -olid joy. 

What can come amiss to that soul, which Christ under- 
takes, by all things, and through all things, to bring to him- 
self? For this end he died: this is the great end of <•- 
trial you meet with ; and upon this ground the Spirit saith, 
Count it all joy when you fall into clivers temptations. All 
the glory, fulness, and ease of this world is but horror and dis- 
tress to a convinced soul, that looks on God as an enemy : but 
nothing can be dismayingly sad, when God saith, I am thine ; 
when the Infinite saith, 'I am thine; I, who am the Maker 
of all things, am thy husband ; thy trials shall not quite 
overwhelm thee; thy sins shall not ruin thee ; death ii 
shall not destroy thee.' O death, where is thy destruction, 
when God shall say, i I will be with thee in the fire, and in 
the water ; thy person is accepted, thy prayers (though in 
thine own eyes without any form or comeliness) are sweet, 
and accepted in Christ, who hath chosen thee, and thou hast 
chosen him ? ' What shall I say ? The freeness of God's 
grace in Christ, his powerful and most voluntary love if 
such, wherever it darts, that neither sin nor devil can stand 
before it, to hinder a jot of all that good which such a ( I 
has promised and undertaken to perform, (and that merely 
upon the account of his own nana-) streaming forth thn i 
Christ in the gospel, to such poor, ill-deserving creat 
you and I are. I shall add no more at present, except com- 
mitting you to this God, whose you are, whom you B6I 
and who will never leave nor forsake, hut guide you by his 
coun>el. and support you by his Spirit, till he ha- brought 
you to glory, the perfection and fulness of what you pray 
and long for. 

1G70.— To M. D. 

Every day here is tedious to me, only I am now and 
then refreshed among savory acquaintance. I have had 



208 LETTERS. 

some difficulties in my own spirit under the present dispen- 
sation ; but God has given some hints to me, that it shall 
be for advantage. Some clouds have come, but ever and 
anon it shines again ; which shews, that though darkness be 
intermixed, yet the sun is not set, nor day utterly gone ; nor 
will ever cease till the present warfare issues in freedom 
and victory ; and all through the rich grace and faithfulness 
of God, who " delighteth in mercy," who will " abundantly 
pardon and save to the uttermost." I have you often in my 
eye, and the rest of my dear friends, to whom I am related 
in the fellowship of the gospel ; for all of whom I offer up 
daily requests to our God and Father. Let us pray, believe, 
hope, and rejoice in our God, our rock. " He giveth power 
to the faint, will revive the weary, and never turn from 
them who wait on him, to do them good." Oh, that when- 
ever we meet again, it may be with some advanced degrees 
of holiness, and spiritual light and life : more faithful, more 
capacious to take in the mystery of Christ, more discerning 
our union with him, more inward in our communion, more 
often in our converse with him; that we may spring up- 
wards with more frequent desires, and improve the grace of 
adoption in a greater height of filial obedience ; and with 
more freedom, resolvedness, and delight, make Christ our 
all in all. Surely God aims at this in our trials, and the 
trials of his church, and I trust " the zeal of the Lord of 
hosts will effect and perform it." I know my affairs at home 
suffer by my absence, but God knows how to balance that 
loss ; and therefore, while I am serving his present provi- 
dence, I desire to leave that care upon him. I commend 
you to the gracious bosom of our blessed God and Father ; 
even to him who is your best friend and keeper ; and with 
my choicest affections I remain, etc. 

1670.— To P. D. 

The best advice, which, in the first place, I would give 
you (and which I would take myself) in all straits, is se- 
riously to consider the deserving cause of trouble, and how 
far there hath been in you the least accessoriness thereunto, 
and so to spread it penitently before the Lord, imploring the 
help of his Spirit through Jesus Christ, to give your soul 
a thorough turn to him ; applying yourself heartily and un- 
feignedly to the throne of grace, for the removing away all 



L Mill. 

guilt : and thai your conscience being cleansed through the 
blood of Christ, peace maj be made between God and pour 
soul. And if the Lord shall please thus to incline j 
heart to him, it will be Bome forerunning token, thai he will 
find a way (far be can best do it) to take off the edge of 
men's severity, and turn it. though against the grain of their 
own interest) into pity and kindness, ♦•!<•. 

1G72.— To B.J. D. 

I am glad to hear that you are in health, which the ; 
continue with the addition of the highest blessing, thai 
spiritual endowment, and that interest in Christ, that Baving 

and powerful work of grace, and that activity for God in the 
ways and power of godliness, and that exemplary pattern of 
holiness in your walk, which can only render long life a bl - 

ing, and truly make an hour of dissolution sweet, and the con- 
sideration of that great day of our appearance to be pleasant) 
and, upon safe grounds, desirable. That famous and laborious 
minister, Mr. Joseph Caryl, your ancient friend and com- 
panion, is departed this life, aged about seventy-one years ; his 
death is greatly lamented by the people of God throughout 
this city. About the beginning of his sickness I was with him, 
and he inquired concerning you, and perceiving him to be 
somewhat weak, though he did not then keep his chamber, I 
desired him, while he was yet alive, to continue to pray 
for you ; which motion he cheerfully and readily embraced. 
And coming to him again, about three days before his death. 
I found him very weak, and past hope of life; lie then told 
me. a- well as I could understand him. (for his speech wa- 
low.) that he had remembered his promise to mo concerning 
you. I think good to mention this particular passage, to 
provoke you to all seriousness in reference to your own -mil. 
whose eternal welfare lay so much upon the heart of this 
servant of Christ Hi- labor- were great, his Btudies in 
sant, his conversation unspotted, his sincerity, faith, /rah and 
wisdom, gave a fragrant smell among the churches and - 
rants of Christ His sickness, though painful, was borne 
witli patience, and joy in believing; and BO he parted from 
time to eternity, under full .-ail of desire, and joy in the 
Holy Spirit, lie lived his own Bermons: he did at last de- 
sire his friend- to forbear .-peaking to him, that BO he in- 
retire within himself; which time-, they perceived, he .-pent 
18 



210 LETTERS. 

in prayer ; oftentimes lifting up his hands a little ; and at 
length his friends, seeing not his hand to move, drew near, 
and perceived he was silently departed from them, leaving 
many mournful hearts behind. 

And now, dear brother, O that this may be an exciting 
motive to you and me, to redeem the time which the 
caterpillars have eaten, that we be not found unready. 
And if ever you expect to be a companion again with Mr. 
Caryl, break off from all such company which were not his 
delight. Concern yourself to make a fresh and thorough 
surrender to God in your old age. Beg, I beseech you, beg 
such a convincing, impartial, heart-breaking sight of your 
sins in youth and old age, that may force you to Christ 
for refuge, while he may be found ; and beg his Spirit, 
that you may glorify him on earth, the few days that yet 
remain, as signally as ever you have dishonored him. 
What a joy will it be to this glorified saint, Mr. Caryl, at 
the last day, to see that his prayers for you have prevailed ! 
Dear brother, I pray excuse my earnestness in what I have 
written ; it may be, you and I may never again see each 
other in this world : you are much upon my heart, I mean 
as to your eternal estate ; and glad I should be to hear of 
some eminent change as to soul-concernments, before either 
I hear of your, or you hear of my. launching forth into vast 
eternity, where there can be no more changes ; and the hour 
is near, in which the eye that hath seen you shall see you 
no more: " As the tree falls, so shall it lie:" the eternal 
judgment follows death at the heels. I can say no more : 
it must be divine power and grace that must set the wheels 
a-going, if ever they move. And therefore, whilst I am in 
this world, I hope I shall not cease to pray for you, whilst 
you are in this world also ; for our prayers cannot reach be- 
yond the grave. Dear brother, farewell ; yea, fare better 
and better, till you fare best of all, etc. 

1674— To B. D. 

I bless the Lord, I can remember and mention you as 
one who is interested in that promise, Jer. xxxii. 41, "I will 
rejoice over them, to do them good ; " and that he will never 
leave you, till he has perfected that which concerns you, in 
a way of grace, mercy, and love. My great and frequent 
request on your behalf is, above all, that God would pre- 



LETTERS. 211 

serve you from the evil of sin, and from mares in jrour 
daily walk; that he would sprinkle you frith the blood, with 
the merit, of Christ's satisfaction and righteousness ; that he 

would direct your path, and do all your works in you, and 
for yon; and cause you to lean strongly and cheerfully on 

the arm of his truth and grace, iu reference to all present 
and future trials; and that you may more than conquer 
through believing, iu every exigence you do or may meet 
with ; till the warfare l><' accomplished, and the days of 
trial terminate in the fruition of perfect freedom. For my 
own part, J have reason to bless the Lord, thai he has 
favorably held me up, and carried me along now then- many 
years, since we saw each other; and although he hath 
ercised me with some difficulties, and considerable Lose 
I hope and do think, lie has some way or other a reserve of 
kindness for me (unworthy me and mine) ; u for the earth is 
the Lord's, and the fulness thereof." And through this 
grace, I have, in some measure and desire, held on -till to 
choose him for my portion, as to things present and eternal. 
Your time and mine are in the hands of God, who is most 
wise, and to be adored and submitted to. The days of our 
anxious pilgrimage are running out; the Lord direct our 
eyes to that serene, unchangeable state, where sins, fears, 
temptations, turmoils, and difficulties, will cease forever : to 
the care, counsel, comfort, and communion of whose gracious 
Spirit I commend you. 

1674— ToH.W. 

Remembering that ancient amity and respect, that was 
heretofore between my father and yourself, and the con- 
tinuance thereof, for a long time after his decease, between 
yourself and his family; and being not at all conscious to 
myself, that I have, for my own part, hitherto merited, much 
designed the suspense of that good will; but being -till 
heartily desirous of your welfare, I am, though distant in 
ision presents, often inquiring how it is with 

you; and understanding that your days are yet drawn forth, 

and that your pilgrimage, though under much infirmity of <>ld 
. doth yet continue, 1 was willing to evidence my real 

respects unto you by a line or two: and a- I do net doubt, 
but that your general aim, throughout your days, has b 
to employ your talents in the service of Christ, while Btrength 



212 LETTERS. 

and time permitted ; so I earnestly desire, that in the ap- 
proaches of a dissolution, you may find that fulfilled to you, 
which David prayed for ; " That the Lord would not forsake 
him in his old age, when strength faileth," Psalm lxxi. 9. 
The same I desire for you, even that you may now expe- 
rience the refreshing virtue of all those gospel-truths, which 
Christ has so long entrusted you with, as his messenger 
unto others ; that you may have the merit of his satisfaction 
and righteousness applied, for your perfect absolution from 
all sin and guilt ; the influence and conduct of his Spirit, to 
steer all your meditations, and thoughts, hopes, and desires ; 
the consolations of his grace and love, to sweeten your 
travel through the valley of death, and give you at last a 
refreshing arrival at the throne of eternal rest ; and there 
harbor you, after all the incumbrance and warfare of this 
present state, in the fruition of his immediate presence, with- 
out spot, in Jesus Christ ; the glimpses whereof I heartily 
desire you may beforehand partake of, as an earnest of that 
great, full, and perfect revelation and enjoyment, when time 
shall be no more. So, with my hearty and unfeigned respects, 
I remain, in truth and real affection Yours. 

1674— To H.¥. 

I received yours of the 25th past, which was exceed- 
ingly welcome to me ; and therefore I return you hearty 
thanks, both for it, and your candid acceptance of that token 
I sent you ; being an indication (such as it was) of the 
respect and value, which from my very heart, and that de- 
servedly, I bear towards you. Your letter, written (as I 
see) with an aged, feeble hand, I have read over with great 
acceptation, and account it to me the same as a precious 
balm. I understand that Mr. O., after a very small time of 
sickness, in a few moments' space, departed this life : and 
thus we are dropping away, hastening towards a dissolution, 
where the eye that now seeth us, shall see us no more. 
Blessed be that Redeemer, who will not call home any of 
his peculiar number, before he has finished the design of his 
grace, and the purpose of his will by them, and in them. 
And blessed are those souls that are, in any saving measure, 
helped by his Spirit to creep out of themselves, into his 
heart ; and in that union partake of all the benefits of his 
death, and purchase, both for present grace, and hope of 



v : in which Qumber I am undoubtingly persu 
you are included; and that you lie under the aspect 
thai divine goodness and love, which will feed the <>il in 
your lamp, and will cause it t<> be readj trimmed and 
ning ; that so, when the bridegroom comes, and c 
I oil' to immortality and life, yon may In- able to 
Lo, I come, tor all is ready: such a readiness the I 
grant also to my poor soul. To his grace and favor, and 
consolation of his Spirit, 1 commit you, and rest, etc. 

1674.— To E. I). 

Let your consideration feed on the quickening trutl 
the gospel; fleeing to, and relying on. Christ, who i> the 
arm of the Lord ; rejoicing in him, who requires you to c 

every depressing burden from yourself, upon him : that is 
the true gospel method, and you shall not be disappoint 
Faithful is God, who hath called you into the fellowship of 
his dear Son ; and thereby you have ground of boldness to 
enter in within the vail, and he has promised you shall 
never be cast out ; for your iniquities he will remember no 
more : and though the cross be somewhat difficult to bear, 
yet the reserve at last will fully recompense all ; and there- 
fore lift up your head, for redemption is coming. We I 

troubled at the troubles the churches meet with in , 

and elsewhere. It is a sad day, when the word of salva: 
comes to be suppressed by souls that must perish without it : 
our business is, cheerfully and humbly to prepare for grea 
shocks. Nearness to God in Christ is the safest and bw< 
/actuary. 

1675.— To E. D. 

I have not received any letter from you for many w 
which is not a little afflictive. You arc upon our hearts, 
and we cease not the particular mention of von in our 
prayers. Sometimes [fear your body lies under Buch ex- 
tremity, that you cannot write : and sometimes I am will 
to relieve my thoughts by supposing, if it were 90, I might, 
at least, have a letter from S. II. Bui though I know 
your present case, yet J know my God and your Grod 
you under his own love and care. Hi- great design, for 
own glory, and your and my good, is to instruct us, and l< 
us into the life of resignation, ami dependence singly BO ! 
18* 



214 LETTERS. 

fully upon himself. Saving light, faith, and truth are the 
very lessons he is calling upon me, and drawing me to learn ; 
and, O for some good proficiency in this learning : nothing 
so sweet, nothing so secure, and nothing so completely ad- 
vantageous. I left the lady F. this afternoon, very near, in 
appearance, to a dissolution, and A. P. breathing, and wait- 
ing for her change. Happy souls, who choose that part that 
shall never be taken away, but abide through death, unto 
life in perfection. I doubt not but where you are, you will 
have the good presence of God, who is both a sun and a 
shield ; and withal, according to his promise, he will with- 
hold no good thing from you, seeing he has given you to his 
Son, and his Son to you, who will cause you to have an up- 
right regard to the law of that blessed relation ; which is the 
condition of that promise. To the shadow of his wing I 
commend both you and my sister, longing to hear of her re- 
covery, if the Lord please ; but she is in a Father's hand, 
and under her Father's care and love. In sickness and 
health, living and dying, nothing can come amiss to those 
that love him, and give themselves perfectly away to him; 
as I am persuaded she has done, and can rejoice in that 
blessed bargain ; a contract made by and through Christ, the 
faithful Witness, and watchful, prevalent Advocate ; and 
however outward dispensations and providences work, they 
will work together for good, because his love, mercy and 
truth endure forever. Where the eye of his favor once 
fixes, he never takes it off; the tokens of which favor you 
have (through his free grace) had some taste of, that thereby 
you may be led, and helped to hope perfectly to the end, and 
humbly rejoice in the hope of the glory of God, in what 
method soever he is pleased to act in the way of his fatherly 
discipline. He is omnipotently, universally, and continually 
good in himself, and in the communications of his goodness 
to his people, waiting on him, and trusting in him. To him 
I commend you daily, and with him I leave you, etc. 

1675.— To B. D. 

Ix my last I acquainted you with the weakness of my 
daughter Elizabeth, at which time she continued with an in- 
termixture of revivings now and then, and much refresh- 
ment, as to the state of her soul, and things eternal ; and. in 
the doctors' opinion, in some good hope of recovery, until 



the - th-day ; and then 

the doctors saw thai the Lord had determin< do . and 

thai evening he called her to himself. The lose of wl 
company is not only a piercing affliction to myself, eta, but 
lamented by divers others, who had experience of thai worth 
which God himself had graciously beautified her BOtil h 
He is most wise: oh thai he may cause me distinctly 
his voice herein, and to improve it to the utmost use he in- 
tends ii for. It is your affliction thai yon are, by the pn 
dence of God, held so Long at Mich a distance from us, under 
so many trials of your faith and patience on everj hand; 
which, as the Lord is pleased to help, J am after my v 
measure, often presenting before him, entreating thai he 
would bear up your heart, and assist you as he hath hitherto 
done, to go through the residue of your exercise in this pil- 
grimage. Commending you to his gra gth, com 
and blessing, I remain, etc. 

1G77.— To J. L. 

Some years have now passed without the intercourse of 
any letter between us. I should be glad our old acquaint- 
ance might not quite die, while we live and continue here. 
How it is with you I know not; but for my own part. I have 
and do pass my pilgrimage here through a thorny wilderness 
of cares, difficulties, and temptations, all along ; and do ex- 
pect no other, till I leave my sinful nature, and a dark, de- 
filed world behind me : for I have abundant daily proof | 
this lower state is not my rest, but I wait and hope l'<>v that 
rest which remaineth. I am stricken in Ing now 

in the sixty-fourth year of my ago : and through the ricl 
of free grace (and that alone) .-ailing toward- the end 
time, under the hope of eternal life ; and through the <j:<«n\- 
3 of the Lord, do yet enjoy the company of my dear and 
able yoke fellow, a- a helper and sweet companion with 
me in my voyage. I find also a gracious child, my daugh- 
ter Elizabeth, whom the Lord eminently prepared for hi 
. and then translated her hence; and God has left us i 
little branch : the Lord grant she may lov< 
her sister, and enter, at last, in 
I heartily desire ii may ever] well with you; and 

that, though distance of place hinder our a 
we may, at last, see the face of Christ, and one anotl 



216 LETTERS. 

in the perfection of purity, and fulness of joy, in a better 
country. 

1677.— To C. S. D. 

I understand, by Mr. F., that you are all in health ; 
long may it continue, and well may your time and health be 
improved. And as to any counsel that I am able to give 
you, 'tis far short of what you do or may receive ; not only 
from the solemn ministration of the gospel by the faithful 
dispensers of the word, but also by those excellent books, 
fit for meditation, use, and application, of which I suppose 
you have many lying by you. Only I would say this ; the 
principal part of religion (that which, in scripture, is called 
the kingdom of God) lies chiefly in heart-renewing power ; 
whereby the throne and dominion of sin is broken ; with 
daily warnings against it, and daily laboring to be free from 
its captivity ; and to that end, there is necessity of the con- 
viction of our sinful, yea, damnable condition by nature ; 
and that not only in our own opinion and judgment, but in 
real view, sense, feeling, and inward operation and exercise ; 
that so the knowledge of, and interest in Christ, may appear 
indispensably necessary, and perfectly desirable, as a " pro- 
pitiation for sin," and to translate the soul into the pure 
image of himself in this world, as the fore-runner of an 
eternal fruition of all that blessedness he died to purchase. 
And upon manifold considerations, it doth eminently concern 
you to dig for this wisdom, as for hidden treasure. You 
have seen, and may further see, what a lean satisfaction it is 
that this lower world doth afford ; what a sandy foundation 
it is to build our hope, delight or dependence upon; and how 
soon every flower withers. Therefore, daily beg of God 
light, truth in the inward part, and saving wisdom, to be 
your principle and guide, through the residue of time. Unto 
his grace I commend you, and rest, etc. 



1677.— To C. H. D. 

I received your letter, and delivered that which you 
sent my brother : both he and I are sensible of the loss of 
your only brother. It doth concern you to consider the 
voice of God in these afflictions, one after another, afkl 
to improve them, so as to make God himself in Christ 



817 

your only Btanding refuge. And o rtainly, if these thi 
do cause you to turn your eyea directly ujm.fi him, and to 
tre iu him alone, you will find him "the husband of the 
widow, and father of the fatherless. 91 In ever] trouble our 
wisest course is, to endeavor to learn whal God is plea 
to say to our souls therein : which is to gel the hearts of his 
people more united unto himself by faith and clear resigna- 
tion; for though the things and persona of this world do 
wither and fade, yel God himself is the rock of ages; and 
hath promised, "The righteous .-hall not bo utterly desoL 
for in the fire and in the water he will ho with them, and 
never leave or forsake them." And therefore I would <\<- 
sire you to endeavor rather to improve your affliction by 
faith for spiritual use. than to waste away your thoughts un- 
profitably through unbelief in pondering, and dejecting your 
heart under these outward trials, though they be great 
Therefore read and meditate the word, where provision of 
support is made, to answer all eases of distress. Spread 
your soul often before the Lord ; open the bottom of your 
heart to him. Flee to the blood of Christ for daily atone- 
ment ; and give yourself up to him who has >aid. " ( 
your burden upon the Lord, and he will sustain you : n and 
then you will see reason, at length, to Bay, "It ¥ I for 

me that I was afflicted ; and that he or she is blessed whom 
God afflicts, and teaeheth his law." Unto him I comn* 
you, praying for you, that you and yours may have the 
gracious shelter of his love and kindn< ss in every condition* 



1G78.— To C. E. D. 

I OFTEN think of you ; and look upon it BS a graciOUS 
dealing of God towards you, ool only to prolong your life 
to thi- age, but also, and chiefly, that ho hath crowned your 
old age with an unwearied tendency towards a better lite 

than • I have ever n. with that Bight which 

we cannot here be capable of. I do b times by 

or another, both of your bring in the land of the In ing, and 
»u walk as b.c-' aged disciple <>f Christ ; 

adorning the doctrine yon profess with a conversation sn 
ble thereunto. The last time I heard from you waa by our 
good friend Mrs. Stubbs; wh re but a few d 

fore her husband, that holy and laborious mini-' 



218 LETTERS. 

took his leave of her ; breathing forth his last farewell to this 
present world ; and to that body of clay, in which he had 
served Christ, for gaining of souls into his flock, through a 
long course of years, diligent (I hope prospering) in the 
great embassage which the great Shepherd employed him 
in. His death was much bewailed by many, (especially by 
them that best knew his worth,) as a great loss to the 
interest and cause of Christ, both in city and country. The 
Lord, in mercy, raise up more supplies of like sincerity, 
diligence, and faithfulness in the Lord's vineyard. Dear 
cousin, the Lord is pleased to use many ways anct means to 
cause us to make the utmost improvement of seasons and 
opportunities of grace, and gives many motives thereto ; 
amongst which this is one, that the prophets do not live 
forever ; and therefore he requires us to make speed, while 
the day of grace, and while the time of life, continues; 
that we may not be found naked and unready, when our 
summons from hence, by death, shall be sent us. I have 
not arrived to the length of your days, but the effects of old 
age are much upon me, and the shadows of the evening have 
begun to appear ; therefore, as it is always, so especially is 
it needful for you and me, who are almost at the utmost 
bounds of our time, to look into, and much to strive after, 
the real and essential parts of godliness ; which lies much 
in this ; to ponder the corruption of our own nature, and the 
contradiction that it stands in, to the pure nature of God, 
and his revealed will ; till we arrive at such a self-abhorrence, 
and despair of any relief, which we can derive from what- 
ever we are, or whatever we can do, ' as of ourselves ; ' that 
we may betake ourselves entirely and perfectly to the grace 
revealed in Christ ; casting our anchor of hope there, and 
there only ; fleeing to the merits of Christ, and his single 
righteousness ; in the virtue, and under the covering where- 
of, to appear before him, when all flesh shall stand and. re- 
ceive their unalterable sentence ; that then we may have the 
comfortable happiness of that good word, " There is no con- 
demnation to those that are in Christ." I cannot at present 
add more, only this ; let none of your past or present 
troubles, of what kind soever, hinder your rejoicing in 
your gracious God and Saviour, who hath fed you all your 
life long ; and will be your God, and your guide, and (as I 
am abundantly persuaded you will find him, according to all 
that he hath promised) your exceeding great reward, when 



LETT] B 

die days of rest and end!, king Bhall o me. I 

gracious guidance I commit you, and to tl i 
lowship of ilif ll<>h Spirit. I pray for you, and d< 
be remembered also bj you, in your prayers unto tl 
of all grace ; even our own God and I 
whose wring 1 desire to leave you, and remain, etc 

1681.— To C. E. D, 

God has been pleased to continue your life unto a 
length of days; and though your outward man hs 
withering, (yet, blessed be God, I perceive) your ini 
man hath been assisted by his good Spirit hitherto, to make 
a happy voyage to the haven of true rest The Lord, in 
merey, accompany you through the remaining part 
voyage, till you enter safely into the harbor, and are settled 
in the mansions, which Christ is gone before to prepare for 
you. I have myself much infirmity of body, and am in 
daily combat with the corruption and vileness of my own 
heart ; from which, I hope, through the riches of free grs 
to be ere long delivered: and I have an abundant hope as 
to the same, concerning yourself. Fix your eye upon the 
great Mediator, cast yourself wholly upon him ; for he will 
never leave you, nor forsake you. One day's communion 
with God, without all sin. in that heavenly country, will 
make you full amends for all the difficulties you havi 
through in your earthly pilgrimage. And though I am 
like on in this world, I hope, through ;, 

the everlasting covenant, to Bee you where there will 
neither Bin, nor old age, to molest either you or me 
more. Dear cousin, the arms of divine love, 
mercy, be continually embracing yon. I can now add 

more: but do Commend you into the hand- of that ( 

whose I am persuaded you are, and whom yon Ben 
affectionate respe< >urself, and all yourrelatio 

that seed of God which ho hath br«n pleased to plant in 
your neighborhood. I remain your affections • 

and brother in Christ 



220 



MEDITATION ON HIS DEATH-BED.* 



April 18. — In the morning he spake, saying, "0 Lord, 
how do I pass through nights and days ! O wise God, and 
dost thou (speaking to himself) account him so ? Lord, 
make me to account thee wise ; and, good Lord, pardon me, 
and receive me. Oh happy day that is coming! Oh blessed 
day that is coming ! I pass through death unto eternal life." 
After that he said, " The captive shall return, there will be no 
more captivity. Oh sweet redemption ! Much of our heaven 
here lies even in that little talk we have about it : and yet 
when we speak a word of it, we have scarcely a thought 
suitable to the greatness of it." Some space after he fetched a 
deep groan ; and with his eyes lifted up, and his right hand 
stretched forth, (as if the pains of death were upon him,) he 
said, " Sharp and welcome, sharp and welcome." And a 
while after he said, " Lord, let me not die with any guilt 
upon me ; but leave it all behind. Oh, let not any sin 
remain in me unrepented of. Let not any concurrence of 
heart with the least guilt be in me. Let there be upon my 
will an edge of hatred against every sin : create it in me 
now. Thou canst make me to delight in that which is con- 
trary to my own will. Oh, let thy will be pleasing to me, 
and let my will be every way according to thy will. Let 
not the agonies of death be too terrible ; let not the tem- 
pestuous billows of it be too terrible to me, nor to any of the 
race thou hast redeemed from death. Let the agonies of 
death be even pleasing to me in Christ. Oh the bitter cup, 
the unspeakable anger of God ! (We have not drunk of it.) 
Oh the intolerable wrath of God, borne by that man ! 
(meaning Jesus Christ) Oh the woful travail of Christ ! We 
have discerned and laid to heart but a little of it ; and that 
hath made repentance slight, and holy care trivial. And 
now, O Lord, thou reckonest with me, for undervaluing of 
that bloody agony : Lord, forgive me my guilt in this thing. 

* The length of this Meditation prevented us from inserting it in 
the Life of Mr. Dorney. Christian Biography, No. 23. 



MKDli A HON ON ]|!S LI \ I II , 

I have not bees ;i Christian in :,i. Oh ! he 

that made himself the bottom of all i Buffer* '1 

6nitely. Oh, such a Redeemer, oh, Bach ;i 
Alas! how unsuitable I have been to him I Lord, 
my unsuitableness ; I have been a- a beast before thee: ! 
have n<>t oome up to the call of thai unutterable 
now, O Lord, I cannot stand in the battle : I cannot, 
arrows of death stick in my flesh ; and I .annoi bear it u ith- 
out great concussions of sou! within me. Bui Oh! < 

Oh! thou who art the God of all grace, who hast B€t D 
kingdom of grace, and art the Head of that I 
thou now pleased to show thy glory. Make death 
make the tendencies to deatli sweet, make ever] de- 

liverance a pleasing step, O my God. Save thy worm; av< 
thy worm, O my God, according to thy promises made 
Jacob. I hearken what the Lord will sa y ; he will Bp 
peace in the blood of Jesus. Own me, Lord, own me to 
be thy friend; yes, say to me, as thou Bpakest of Abraham, 
Thou art my friend. Dost thou love me ? Dost thou at this 
time love me with thy whole heart, and with thy whole a 
Dost thou love me more than my nearest and dearest frit nds ? 
than those intimate relations here, that continue with me i. 
my tribulation? with a more inward, intense love? with an 
infmiteness beyond all these ? Lord, let me know that [] 
lovest me in very deed; let me know, that thou ]<.-. 
by name ; let me know that thou hast an eye upon me, a 
than doctors and friends; let me know, that - 
thine toward me is the effect of thy love. Love me,< 
with thy whole heart; oh, make me to believe it. Help 
to apprehend, that thou dost take notice of me, and art with 
me every moment; with me, as to my present c 
concernment, h is dead friendship, when friends can i 
hear nor see one another ; but sure there ifl another friend- 
ship between thee and thine, and thou standee t in the • 
relations to them. Art n<»i thou my I 
the Church said bo, Lord, thou art our 1 
Ixiv. 8). Thou art my Husband, my Friend; and art 
imed to be called my Brother: oh wonderful! thou be- 
st me, ] nm horn of thee. Lord, what Bhall I do with 

the great things of the gospel, if thou doet d 

Spirit of faith? Lord, wilt not thou, who art brut! 
art life, wilt not thou take the great work of making 
religion practical upon th< 

19 



222 MEDITATION OX HIS DEATH-BED. 

power and truth unto me, so as may answer the very design 
thou aimest at. I have been praying through the days of 
thv drawing me after thee. O Lord, I would come to that 
kind of praying while I am here in the world, as might be 
a lovely copy of that praying, of that converse that will be 
with thee in heaven. Will prayer altogether cease in 
heaven ? No, surely. Lord, glorify thyself, glorify thy- 
self; glorified be God. O then, O that the very life and 
soul of that state may now be begun ! O that I might 
hasten to that state ! Thou detainest me here in thy wisdom. 
I would go unto thee, and into that life which will most 
glorify thee eternally. I would go where life is, and no 
death. I would go where the fullest expression of the 
power of grace overcoming sinners may be openly manifest 
in me ; even in me, who am a poor mortal. There are 
many things which I have found here, that are only like- 
nesses to pure likeness to thee ; and here I have lost wofully 
my way ; Lord, open it. The heart is deceitful above all 
things, and it will have its working one way or other ; but, 
Lord, I would go where there is purity without impurity ; I 
would be with thee, Lord ; for then I can speak to thee in 
thine own language better." 

About two of the clock that day in the afternoon, he 
further extended his speech, as followeth : " The old world 
will be the old world still ; it will remain to eternity ; it will 
be only translated from hence, where it received its curse, 
to hell, to be in chains of darkness forever; but all the 
redeemed number shall be instated in their palaces of glory. 
I am in the very period of seeing wonders ; I am in the 
very period of viewing death and life. I am under some 
sufferings, and they shall be sweet." And (speaking to him- 
self) he said, " Thou shalt lie down in thy bed." And then, 
speaking to God, "Thou wilt not throw me into the grave in 
anger : thou wilt put me into the grave : thou wilt not say. 
Sleep there in death ; thou wilt say, Sleep there a little, till 
the indignation be overpast ; till that is inflicted on thee for 
sin, which was pronounced ; and then that which passed 
away from Christ, shall also pass from thee. Lord, 
thou wilt not be unfaithful to thy word. God cannot lie ; 
God cannot forget to be gracious : he cannot forget his own 
work. This is that God I desire to believe in, and resolve 
eternally to cling unto, with the truth of my whole heart. I 
have sinned, and thou hast pardoned me, and saved me with 



BIS D] I i II B] i>. 

a mighty hand. Help me in this hour, takeaway mj 
The last Btroke thai will be given, will be by the devil him- 
self, because it is his last battle; and thou mil permit hi] 

but thou wilt bind him: and when thou nasi unclenched 
hand-;, ho shall never fa-ten them upon me again. II 
that lasting enemy which attends us from conversion 
vation. Lord, wilt not thou, who hast been destroys 
enmity all along, now cause his enmity ; 
manifestly destroyed? O, down with it', down, I pray t] 
with the strength, the might, the power of the life of sin . 
darkness. Lord, thou hast promised to plague antichrist for 
all the plagues with which he hath plagued thine; Lord, 
do thou pour out thy plagues upon him, while thou doel sus- 
tain him to be fighting in his last battle. Let him fight 
battle ; but let him, O God, drink of the rivers of thy wrath 
along with it. Let the weak overcome the strong; let thy 
people be lions, but let the devil he an enfeebled enei 
Serve thyself of all thy instruments, whatever they are | 
Lord, let them do the utmost service they are respectively 
capable of. Thy proper instruments, O make them glorious, 
make them glorious both in qualifications and actions; and 
those that are improper instruments, that are not instrrn 
ments of thy delight, cause them also to do thy will, in all 
that work that is proper for them, and proper towards thy 
people, for the designs of thy glory upon them: BO that the 
work -of God may thrive in the world, and thy glory 
mightily exalted. Oh thy majesty, thy kingdom, th . 

O that thou wouldst be wonderfully 
glorious in thy acting- : thy nature 

from inli ellency and glory. () let God 

let God be glorified. <> Lord, thousands 
of kindnesses I have had from thee, and thou hast not 
had from me any suitable thanks. Lord, take me out £ 
of this bod; me into the land of truth, win 

IS nothing but purity, holiness, and righteoti— • 
- imetimes I begin a little to be I at my 

unsuitable acting- towards thee in the • | but, 

Lord, thou v trry thing- so, that 1 might know my 

ace indeed. The best of all good thii 
thou hast given me, and thou 1. rved me enti 

. I must travel all the way with a dead '•• 

within the scent, the stench of it; ah, wofiil pavorl \ 
this beside hath madi Thou 



224 MEDITATION ON HIS DEATH-BED. 

and yet I carry that along with me that is my constant de- 
struction, as a continual combatant till I see thy salvation. 
Thou lovest me all over, and yet hatest all over the least sin 
that is in me. And now, Lord, thou comest to show me 
what is the issue of these things. Little, indeed, it is thou 
showest me ; yet that little is glorious. Oh, that the Son of 
God should come into the world, to be joined to me in the 
nearest conjunction ; to assume the same nature, and to unite 
me to himself ; that he might display the insuperable virtue 
and power of his own righteousness, for my righteousness, 
for my justification ! We have reason to think the heavens 
will declare it, even this, to eternity; and this I have been 
made a partaker of. Oh, where are they that have the 
whole shine of the grace of the gospel upon them ? Where 
they are, thou knowest, and ever}' one of thy number shall 
know ; they are not lost, they are treasured up. Lord, help 
me throughout this little period of suffering. Here I am, 
seeming to myself to be just taking leave of this poor body, 
that hath been wandering up and down some years. Dear 
God, wilt thou be pleased to help me ? Thou hast helped 
me all along ; now help me, that I may have such thoughts 
as become an heir of life ; that my faith may not fail, that 
my soul may not be desolate, that my mind may not be dark. 
Lord, save me from the wonted assaults of Satan, now that 
I know not for how many days, or how many nights, thou 
hast designed me. Dear Lord, let me have thy special 
presence with me, and a heart formed to thy contrivance ; 
and let me not contrive for myself. I know not the effects 
of this night. If I shall attain the period of my days this 
night, let it be in Divine rest. I have no other period but 
to be in God, to be in Christ. There is no way to a good 
issue of this conflict, but to overcome by the blood of the 
Lamb. Now I leave myself with thee, be with me, and be 
with all thy dear Zion : be with that beloved spouse whom 
thou hast redeemed from the earth ; and this by means of 
the contrivance of thy grace in Christ ; who lives, and will 
live, and is "the beginning of the creation of God," and was 
ever so. There is a promise of truth ; fulfil it, O God of 
truth ; " My people shall be all holy : " verify it, O God ; 
verify thine own truth ; thy word hath said it, " My people 
shall be all holy." Lord, thou hast a people, thou hast surely 
a people, and thy people, thou hast said shall be known ; or 
else there would be no discovery of thy truth in promises, of 



MED ;ns DEATH 

tliy truth in \}\]\ : and, O Lord, this thou hi 

thai there is the rice betwei n 

pie and their concerns, and others. Thou will be singu- 
larly known in Jacob : now, Lord, be thou plea ed to i 
it known that we are thine ; and lei it be made known to 
all. We were tricked and beguiled away from thee a1 I 
but now we are grafted into life by that, which was do frau- 
dulent pretence, but a reality; the most important reality 

that ever sun, moon, and stars saw, tkat ever : 
that is the thing I yearn towards. I resl me in God hi 
little while ; 1 am, in the Spirit, waiting minutely, m< 
when he will say, Come, and retire to be with me eternally. 
Yet a little while, and Ave shall say, that full 
the completion of all. All Israel shall be saved ; and I 
period is coming on apace : now. now it is coming to me. < > 
now let there be no blind child of God ; () now no lazy child 
of God; O now for winged saints; for those that mount 
and soar, who may answer what hath keen promised in the 
book of the Revelation : the Spirit will have a time to do it 
in, when sloth shall be, by the Spirit of life, turned into in- 
dustry, when the love of God shall be seven times more, 
when the glory of Christ's image shall be as when the Bun 
shineth seven times brighter. Will God always be scarcely 
known in the earth? Will the God of all that grace that 
shines in men be himself continually so obscured ? No, DO. 
He longs to be glorified, and to glorify himself; and his chil- 
dren shall be answerable to their high calling. And. () that 
this might make my soul insatiably longing for this | 
I adore him t\>v any little thirst Oh, I 
time, when the heavens shall echo with the voice of all the 

emed hearts and tongues. Oh, the melody, wh< i 
redeemed tongue shall be able to Bpeak to the bearin 
ends of the whole heavens. Oh, the melody of thai gi 

. when saints and angel- innumerable shall the 

chorus. Oh, never, never was there such melody ! <> 1 

p me iii my present work, till thou calli 
work, and prepare me for the glorifying of thee fi>W 
Help me in this instant ; help m< . 
me through this thicl iously. I 

with me at my dissolution, that nothing but acti 
an( ] . upon ni«'. I leai e i • ltn 

thee ; I desire to do it | erfectl; 



OBITUARY NOTICE. 



Mr. Henry Dorney was born in the year 1613, at Uley, in 
the county of Gloucester, England, and was the fifth child, and 
son of Mr. Thomas Dorney, Gent., and Joanna his wife, both very 
religious characters. They had eleven children, towards whom 
they exercised a most tender and parental care, and were indus- 
triously diligent in bringing them up in the nurture and admoni- 
tion of the Lord. 

After Mr. Henry Dorney had been religiously educated by his 
parents, and furthered in learning at country schools, he was, 
about the fourteenth year of his age, brought to London ; where 
he spent much of his time with them, in attendance on the public 
ordinances of God's word and worship, at the morning and weekly 
lectures, besides the solemnities of worship on the Lord's day ; at 
which time, as it was judged, the work of God's grace began effec- 
tually to seize on his heart. 

After a short continuance in London, he retired again into the 
country, in the pursuit of human learning, and was at length settled 
at Newbury free-school, where, in a year's time, or a little more, 
he thrived so much in learning, that he became completely fit for 
the University. But for some cogent reasons his father (with his 
own consent, he being always very obedient) thought it more con- 
venient to dispose of him to a trade ; in attendance on which, and 
all along in the variety of outward changes in the course of his life, 
and amidst his busiest secular affairs and employments, he yet kept 
the rudiments of his school-learning; applying himself with great 
diligence, as he had spare time, to perfect his studies in the origi- 
nal tongues, wherein he was very expert and accurate, especiallv 
in the Hebrew, and retained an exact knowledge of them to his 
dyingr day. 

His last sickness commenced on the 11th of March, 1083, and 
continued to the 25th of April following, when he died, in the 70th 
year of his age. And as he lived in all manner of conversation 
holily, so he finished his course, and died triumphantly. 

It does not appear that Mr. Dorney published anything in his 
life time. The Tracts in this volume were his private meditations, 
and the Letters were written in confidence to his friends, without 
the least design of their ever being made public ; but after his 
death, the persons, into whose hands they fell, read them with 
delight, and printed them. 



WA RB i:\ I'. DRA PER, 

PUBLISHER J±JSTJO> BOOi 

AND( >VER, mass. 
Publishes nd oflen tor Sale the follow in*, v Lifli w ill 



GUERICKE'S CHURCH HISTORY. Translated by W. G. 
Brown Professor In Andover Theological Seminary. 488 pp. I 

Tli is volmm> includes the period of the a.nch.n r Cbubcb (the Ural <r the 

Apostolic ami Patristic Church. 

r Shedd's version, now under notice, m a happy specimen of 
n rather than a rxAHSLATioir, which many of the German treatises should 
Ihe style of his version is far superior to that of the original.— [Blh. Beers, Jan. 

DISCOURSES AND ESSAYS. By Pbof. W. G. T. Shedd. '271 pp. 
12mo. 85 eta. 

Few clearer ami more penetrating minds can be found in our country than thai I 

. And besides, be writes with a chaste and sturdy eloquence, transparent as crystal ; 6>> 
that if he goes deep, we love to follow him. If the mind gets dull, or dry, or i 
put it to grappling with these masterly productions.— [Congregational Herald, < 

LECTURES UPON THE PHILOSOPHY OF HISTORY. B) 
Prop. W. G. T. Shedd. 128 pp. 12mo. Go ets. 

COXTEHTS : The abstract Idea of History ; The Nature and Definition of Secular 1 ' 
The Nature and Definition of Church History ; The Verifying Test in Church Histoiy. 

OUTLINES OF SYSTEMATIC PvHETORIC. From the German of 
Dk. Francis Theremin, by Prop. W G. T. Shedd. 162 pp. 12mo 

Every minister and theological professor (.in composition and rhetoric especially ) shoo 
it. A more thorough ar.d suggestive, and, in the main, SENSIBLE view of the tub, 
to be found. The central idea in Theremin's theory i . 
reads this little book will be sure to receive an impulse in the direction of I 
discourse.--- [Cong. Herald, Chicago. 

BIBLE HISTORY OF PRAYER. By I 
12mo. $1.00. 

tim of this little volume is to embody an account of tl 
of believers with 
ii in narrative, op< oing and BzplalnL • 

several prayers. 

HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF BPE 
LOSOPHY Ii. 
Chai 

■ 

VINET'S HISTO 
EIGB 

WORKS OF LEONARD WOODS, I>. D. 



Publications of W. F. Draper, Andorer. 

THEOLOGIA GERMANICA. Which setteth forth many fair lineaments 
of Divine Truth, and saith very lofty and lovely things touching a Perfect Life. 
Edited by Dr. Pfeiffer, from the only complete manuscript yet known. 
Translated from the German by Susanna TTinkavorth. With a Preface by 
the Rev. Charles Kingsley, Rector of Eversley; and a Letter to the Trans- 
lator, by the Chevalier Bunsen, D. D , D. C. L., etc. ; and an Introduction 
by Trof. Calvin E. Stowe, D. D. 275 pp. 16mo. Cloth, $1.00 : calf, $2 00. 
This treatise was discovered by Luther, who first brought it into notice by an edition which 
he published in 1516, of which he says : " And I will say, though it be boasting of myself, and 
' I speak as a fool,' that, next to the Bible and St. Augustine, no book hath ever come into my 
hands whence I have learnt, or would wish to learn, more of what God and Christ, and mau, 
and all things, are." 

" The times and the circumstances in which this most rich, thoughtful, and spiritually 
quickening little treatise was produced, — the national and ecclesiastical tendencies and influ- 
ences which invested its author, and which gave tone, direction, and pressure to his thoughts, 
— are amply and well 6et forth in the preface by Miss Winkworth, and the letter of Bunsen. 
The treatise itself is richly deserving of the eulogies upon it so emphatically and affectionately 
uttered by Prof. Stowe and Mr. Kingsley, and, long before them, by Luther, who said that it 
had profited him ' more than any other book, save only the Bible and the works of Augustine.' 
Sin, as a universal disease and defilement of the nature of man ; Christ, as an indwelling life, 
light, and heavenly power; Holiness, as the utmost good for the soul; and Heaven, as the 
state or place of the consummation of this holiness, with the consequent vision of God, and 
the ineffable joy and peace,— these are the theme of the book. Audit has the grand, and in 
this day the so rare and almost singular merit, of having been prompted by a real and deep relig- 
ious experience, and of having been written, not with outward assistance, but with the enthu- 
siasm, the spiritual wisdom, and the immense inward freedom and energy, of a soul itself con- 
scious of union with Christ, and exulting in the sense of being made, through him, ' a partaker 
of the Divine nature.' 

" Those who have known the most of Christ will value most this "golden treatise." Those 
whose experience of the divine truth has been deepest and most central will find the most in 
it to instruct and to quicken them. To such it will be an invaluable volume worth thousands 
upon thousands of modern scientific or hortatory essays upon " Religion made easy." 

•' It is printed by Mr. Draper, at the Andover press, in the old English style, with beautiful 

carefulness and skill, and is sent, post paid, to all who remit to him one dollar." — [Independent. 

The work is at once a literary curiosity and a theological gem.— [Puritan Recorder. 

This little volume which is brought out in antique type, is, apart from its intrinsic value, a 

curiosity of literature. It may be regarded as the harbinger of the Protestant Reformation. — 

[Evening Traveller. 

WRITINGS OF PROFESSOR B. B. EDWARDS. With a Memoir 
by Professor Edwards A. Tark. 2 vols. 12mo. 82.00. 

These works consist of seven Sermons, sixteen Essays, Addresses and Lectures, and a Me- 
moir by Professor Park. 

ERSKINE ON THE INTERNAL EVIDENCE FOR THE 
TRUTH OF REVEALED RELIGION. Third American, from the Fifth 
Edinburgh Edition. 139 pp. lGmo. 50 cents. 

" The entire treatise cannot fail to commend the positions which it advocates to intelligent 
and considerate minds. It is one of the best, perhaps the best, of all the discussions of tl>:s 
momentous subject." — [Congregationalist. 

" This argument of Erskine for the Internal Evidence of the Truth of Revealed Religion, ia 
the most compact, natural and convincing we have ever read from o.'ny author." — [Chris. Chron. 

" No man ought to consider himself as having studied theology, unless he has read, and pon- 
dered, and read again, * Erskine on the Internal Evidence.' " — [The Independent. 

THE ANGEL. OVER TES RIGHT SHOULDER. By the author 
of u Sunny Side." 29 pp. ^rao. 20 cents. 



Deacidified using the Bookkeeper process. 
Neutralizing agent: Magnesium Oxide 
Treatment Date: Nov. 2005 

PreservationTechnologies 

A WORLD LEADER IN PAPER PRESERVATION 

1 1 1 Thomson Park Drive 
Cranberry Township. PA 16066 
(724)779-2111 



